Chapter 12: Friends will be Friends
While Harry was in Snape's office, Professor McGonagall was in the Gryffindor common room explaining to the second year boys that unless they were sleeping, they were not to spend time socialising in their dorm room for the remainder of the evening and all of tomorrow until breakfast on Tuesday.
"But why, professor?" Neville asked.
"You may get anything you need from your dorm, I am not refusing you entry up there, however, Mr. Dursley has been suspended for a day and will be spending his time alone."
"What did he do?" asked Ron, shocked and concerned.
"That is none of your business. If he wishes to tell you, he may, but otherwise, do not pester him. I'm sure you would appreciate the same courtesy if it were you." replied McGonagall uncharacteristically coldly. With that, she turned and left the common room.
She was not in the mood for dealing with accusatory stares from Ronald Weasley, and if he'd said anything to even begin to defend Dursley, she'd have said something hasty that she might regret later. Her temper was on a short fuse this evening. She knew it was because she was feeling exceptionally guilty about Harry. She speak to him tomorrow, she decided.
After Professor McGonagall had left the common room, Ron and Neville had gone straight over to where Hermione and the twins were sitting. Ron threw himself down on the couch next to them making his disgruntlement known.
"What the hell?" said Ron, "Dudley got suspended for a day! What's that about?"
"Karma." said George with satisfaction.
"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Ron.
The others exchanged a look, and Hermione shook her head. They hadn't spoken to Harry since the feast the day before. The twins had gone looking for him a couple of times but hadn't found him. They presumed he'd wanted to be alone and was either hiding in his dorm, Slytherin common room, or somewhere they hadn't looked. Apart from feeling like they'd escaped the firing squad while talking to Snape in the morning, the twins didn't know anything else. Without knowing what they should and shouldn't say about Harry they all remained quiet.
"It means I think Dudley isn't a nice person and deserves whatever has happened to him." said George.
"You're just jealous because I've got a friend that's not my inseparable twin!" said Ron acidly, and with that stood up and stalked out of the common room.
"It's after curfew, so I can't go find Harry," said Hermione. "but perhaps I can get Professor McGonagall to tell me something. I can hardly ask Harry at breakfast, that'd be far too embarrassing." so she left the common room to head to McGonagall's office.
Knocking on the door of the office, she reflected this really was a stupid thing to be doing. Like her head of house was going to share what'd happened to another student! But Hermione cared for Harry. Perhaps it's the Gryffindor in me, the girl thought.
"Come in." said McGonagall. Hermione entered nervously.
"Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" said Minerva, more sharply than she should have done. Hermione took a breath.
"We were wondering if Harry's OK." said Hermione.
Minerva heard a lot of unsaid things in that sentence. Things like 'We're Harry's friends and we care', 'You falsely accused and punished Harry for something he didn't do' and 'We know Dudley did it - just admit it.'
"Miss Granger, tell me, when did you decide Harry was innocent." Minerva wanted to know how badly she'd misjudged Harry, and wasn't sure she was going to like the answer.
"Harry was never guilty." said Hermione, without a pause.
"Did you ever suspect Mr. Dursley of framing Mr. Potter for anything?"
Hermione looked at the floor, her guilt coming to the surface, shook her head, and murmured "Not until yesterday. Harry said it was Dudley, but I... I didn't believe him." Hermione's voice cracked just a touch.
For some reason that made Minerva feel just a little bit better. Not much though. But at least she wasn't the only person feeling guilty about not seeing the duplicity of Mr. Dursley. She was however the only person in the room who hadn't listened to Harry when he'd said he was innocent, and she was finding that very hard to deal with that. She had been the boy's head of house, yet she hadn't believed him.
Hermione carried on, a little more confident that she'd get an answer, "So did Dudley frame Harry with Polyjuice?"
Minerva nodded.
"And go to Hogsmeade as Harry?"
Minerva nodded again.
"And so Dudley's been suspended?"
There was a pause, "Yes, Miss. Granger."
"May I sit with Harry at breakfast tomorrow?"
Again a nod. "Good night, Miss. Granger." and Hermione left the office at the obvious dismissal to report back to Neville and the twins.
Next morning, Hermione was both happy to see Harry and nervous. If she'd believed him about Dudley being so horrible earlier, would any of this have happened? Could she have stopped Dudley framing Harry? Could she have found a way to defend her friend? She awkwardly approached Harry at the Slytherin table. Harry was surprised to see her at his table and made room for her giving a quick glance to the head table. Snape had seen her sit down, but he turned to continue talking with Professor Flitwick.
"I'm sorry, Harry." blurted out Hermione, the three words tripping over themselves in their haste to be said.
"What for?" asked Harry, confused.
"For not believing you about your cousin."
"Hermione. You believed I was innocent. That's all that matters to me. At one point I even thought I was going crazy thinking it must have been him. I just couldn't prove it. There's nothing to forgive."
Hermione gave Harry a hug. "You're such a kind person, you know." she said.
Harry felt awkward, especially as the Slytherins had seen him get hugged, so he moved the conversation along.
"He's been suspended." said Harry, unwilling to share anything else about Dudley's punishment.
"I know. McGonagall told us. The boy's aren't allowed in the dorm for the day."
And that was all that needed to be said between them both. They moved on to talk about classes and general day to day things. Theodore even joined in their conversation at that point.
The twins saw Hermione talking to Harry at breakfast at the Slytherin table when they entered the great hall and so they went to goad Ron about having the wrong friends.
"What's it like picking the losing side, little brother?"
"What do you mean?" asked Ron non-plussed.
"Well, we assume Dursley told you why he was suspended." said Fred.
Ron didn't say anything. Last night when he'd gone to bed, fortunately he'd not been caught out of the tower after curfew when he'd stormed off, Dudley had been awake but he hadn't answered any of Ron's questions. Not what he'd done, or who'd caught him or anything. He'd just been lying on his bed, propped up on his elbows staring at his pillow angrily. Ron had stopped prying and gone to sleep.
"Merlin, Fred! He doesn't know!" said George, deliberately gleefully to annoy his younger brother.
"George! I think you're right. Our little brother perhaps needs educating." said Fred in the same irritating way. "It's like this," said Fred, suddenly serious, "Dudley went to Hogsmeade on Saturday. He followed us down the passage we went through."
"Thanks for telling him what were up to, by the way." interjected George sarcastically.
"Without me?" asked Ron.
"Yes, without you. But that's not what will have got him suspended." said Fred. "He went disguised as Harry."
Ron sat there with his mouth open.
The twins didn't explain everything. They didn't tell Ron about anything to do with what had happened earlier in the week. They were unsure of all the details. Harry hadn't been very forthcoming, and they didn't want to embarrass Harry by telling Ron that Harry had been punished by the headmaster. So they left their explanation at Hogsmeade. If Harry wanted to tell Ron anything else, that was Harry's right, not theirs.
Ron was still sitting there with his mouth open.
Ron was shocked, confused and hurt. Dudley hadn't taken him with him to Hogsmeade. Ron had told Dudley about the twins' way into the village and Dudley had gone, but hadn't taken him with him. It was like the beginning of the year all over again. Harry was Ron's best friend, yet Harry had accepted being sorted into Slytherin. Harry had abandoned him. His cousin hadn't been as bad as Harry had said. How bad can a person be who socked Crabbe so beautifully in the nose of the train? But now, Dudley had gone without him to Hogsmeade. Why did his friends keep excluding him?
Ron stood up, angry and upset. It was all so unfair! He stalked out of the great hall without a word, going early to his first class.
On Mondays, Harry had Transfiguration. He went to class and sat in his usual seat at the front. Professor McGonagall entered and started their lesson. They were transforming rabbits into slippers. McGonagall had gone around everyone's bench by the time the lesson ended, except his. Once or twice she'd glanced over at him and looked away, her cheeks changing colour slightly. Harry was saddened by this. His head of house - he still thought of her that way sometimes - wasn't even looking at him, never mind speaking to him. Harry glumly started to pack up his things at the end of the lesson. He was the last person to leave.
"Harry." Harry looked up. Professor McGonagall was standing next to him. He looked up at her. He'd never seen her look sad before. Strict yes, annoyed, certainly. And he couldn't forget the look of disappointment she'd given him on Wednesday last week. But never sad.
"I'm sorry, Harry." she said simply.
It was amazing how three simple words could lighten Harry's heart. She believed him. She was no longer disappointed in him. Everything was right again. Harry smiled.
"Thank you."
It was Minerva's turn to smile. She looked relieved too, there was suddenly less tightness about her eyes. "Don't be late for your next lesson, Mr. Potter," she said with a twitch of her lips, as she turned away to prepare her next lesson.
After class, Harry went to the quidditch practice pitch with Hermione, Neville and the twins. Hermione and Neville weren't flying, but they wanted to be with Harry. The three boys had been flying for around half an hour, passing a quaffle to each other when Ron arrived, looking awkward. Harry and the twins flew over to where Ron was with Hermione and Neville.
"Um." said Ron, looking anywhere but Harry's face.
Since coming back to Hogwarts, all Harry had wanted was to be with his friends. Ron was his best friend. He was impetuous and he was easily offended, but Dudley was none of his fault. Neither was Harry getting resorted into Slytherin. It had taken less than one day of not being influenced by Dudley for Ron to seek out Harry. A part of Harry felt guilty. If Harry had gone to the Fat Lady and asked to speak with Ron the first night, would any of this happened? Harry shook that thought off - it wasn't worth thinking about the might have beens.
"Want to come fly?" Harry asked.
The look of relief on Ron's face was obvious. He nodded as if words were hard. The four boys went to fly for a while longer. Harry had fun. When he had quidditch practice with Slytherin, he was happy to be flying on his broom, but this, this was pure joy. Just to be out with his friends. Sure, things got a little silly - George nearly planted himself into the ground showing off his attempt at a Wronski Feint - if McGonagall had been watching they'd have all been banned from flying for eternity. But Harry didn't care one bit. The freedom and joy of being with his friends again made his heart pound in his chest. They flew until it was dark and then went to the great hall for dinner. Harry didn't push his luck though - he went to eat with Slytherin.
They all trooped up to the library after dinner and found a quiet corner away from everyone else. Although they had to be quiet, they could hold a whispered conversation.
"Harry," said Ron, looking anywhere but Harry again, "I'm sorry I got in a huff with you about the twins pranking Dudley." Ron gave the twins a hard look. Fred opened his mouth to explain that ton-tongue toffee was the least the whale deserved, when George elbowed him in the ribs. "I was angry that you'd been resorted and I thought that we couldn't be friends anymore and I took that out on you."
Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Ron kept talking.
"The twins told me this morning that Dudley went to Hogsmeade. I was angry that he hadn't taken me. We're friends, he and I." Fred opened his mouth and got elbowed by Hermione this time.
"Ron," said Harry, "Dudley has always done what he wanted, he doesn't take other people's feelings into account."
Harry wanted to say more, a lot more, but Ron had just said 'We're friends.', not 'We were friends.' Harry knew that he was treading on thin ice. Ron didn't know about Dudley and the staff common room in any way. Harry thought about just telling Ron everything, explaining (again) that Dudley was a complete arse, that he'd framed Harry, not with no thought for the consequences, but deliberately to get Harry into trouble. But Harry was embarrassed. He hadn't told Hermione or the twins what had happened in detail either. They knew Dudley had taken his wand and done something looking like him, but not what. They knew Harry had been spanked by Dumbledore, although Ron didn't, but he'd not elaborated. He far was too embarrassed. Embarrassed that Dudley could have been so manipulative. The years that Harry had lived at Privet Drive should have served as practice at recognising Dudley's nastiness, but he hadn't seen it coming. So Harry said nothing to disabuse Ron of exactly how horrible Dudley was. One day though, though t Harry, Dudley would slip up and Ron would find out for himself.
Harry had had the best day of his school year today. He'd eaten breakfast with Hermione, received renewed support from Professor McGonagall, and spent a happy hour flying with his friends. He wasn't going to spoil it by having an argument with Ron about his cousin. Harry thought he was being kind.
Fred gave Harry a look. It spoke volumes. It said, "Tell him, moron."
Fred received looks off everyone else, that said, "It's Harry's choice. Don't you dare tell him." Fred caved.
When curfew was approaching, they returned to their respective common rooms. In Gryffindor, Ron briefly went up to his dorm to collect his Potions book to write an essay for the next day.
"Did you have fun flying?" asked Dudley, unable to not sound acerbic.
"How did you know?" asked Ron, "And what do you care what I do?" he added nastily.
"I saw you out of the tower window." replied Dudley, "and you've got the wrong idea."
"About what?"
"I didn't mean to leave you behind when I went to Hogsmeade. It was just that I had to follow your brothers right then else I'd lose them. There wasn't time to go back for you. I brought you sweets back. I know it's not much of a consolation prize, and it'd have been much more fun with you, but I just had to go. In preparation for next time."
"And who would I have gone as, Hermione?" demanded Ron crossly.
"That was an accident. I thought that I'd got one of Lee Jordan's hairs in the Polyjuice - he's dark like Harry, and I didn't realise because I couldn't see myself."
"What the hell were you doing with Polyjuice anyway? When were you going to share that with me?"
"My folks sent me it, but shhh, don't tell anyone, I don't want to get my family in bother." Ron shrugged and nodded at that, "I was going to tell you next weekend. I thought we could test it out together and try to sneak into the other common rooms for a laugh." said Dudley.
"Ron, I'm sorry, I didn't think. If I'd known you'd be upset I wouldn't have done it."
Ron's problem was that he was far too forgiving. In a family the size of his, you couldn't hold a grudge, there wasn't the space in the Burrow, so when people apolgised, you moved on. He was angry at what Dudley had done, but he had sounded sincere just now, and Ron was mollified.
"We're good." said Ron. "I've got to go, before I get into trouble for being up here."
"Of course." said Dudley amicably, as Ron turned and left. Dudley had realised when they were talking that no-one had told Ron about his first use of Polyjuice, else even though Dudley could probably have laid out Ron in one punch, if Ron had found out what had happened Dudley wouldn't have stood a chance. He further reasoned that if they hadn't it was because for some reason, Harry wanted it that way. Either the twins and the bookworm didn't know, or they did and weren't going to tell Ron. Either way, that suited Dudley. Ron was necessary as a friend. Like Piers was. Someone to use when needed.
Dudley sat back down on his bed and immediately regretted it and rolled over. Harry was going to pay for Dudley getting caught. It wouldn't have mattered if he'd only got detentins with filch. It was the principle that counted.
On Wednesday, after class Ron came up to the library with the rest of them. The day before, Harry had been disappointed to see Ron with Dudley at breakfast and again with him in Potions. However Potions had been the best Potions lesson Harry had ever been in. Harry tried to imprint bits of it on his memory in indelible ink. Snape had been magnificent. It must have been how Malfoy saw Potions last year, Harry thought, only instead of Malfoy enjoying Harry being the object of Snape's wrath, Harry was enjoying Dudley being in Snape's sights. Snape was his cutting best. Condescending, picky, tyrannical, vicious, vindictive, any word you'd care to choose.
Dudley's fatal error was in trying for retribution towards Harry too soon. And during Potions. Dudley tried to launch a firework into Harry's cauldron when no-one was looking. Unfortunately he missed and it landed in Neville's cauldron, which promptly exploded, coating the boy in hair-raising potion. After Snape had dispatched Neville to Madame Pomfrey, he didn't even ask who did it.
"Mr. Dursley, detention, every Tuesday straight after classes for the remainder of term."
"I didn't do anything!" said Dudley in protest.
"My classroom is not a democracy. You do not get a say. Do not be late." And with that, he carried on teaching. No-one tried to stick up for Dudley. A couple of students had seen him throw the firework, so even though Snape couldn't prove anything himself right there and then, if he'd been bothered he could have made others tell him what happened.
The upshot of this was that Ron accompanied them up to the library every Tuesday after classes for the remainder of term without fail.
"It's odd Snape giving detention straight after class. He usually times it to inconvenience students most by taking their evenings off them. It's a shorter detention this way." said George, a bit confused.
Harry thought about this. Was it deliberate? Did Snape want Harry to be with his friends? He shook his head - it must be a co-incidence.
That same evening, after dinner, Harry was in the common room reading on his own on one of the couches. His head of house was doing a circuit of the common room seemingly idly talking to students about the homework that they were doing. He's a good head of house, thought Harry. He cares about whether we do the work. Snape came over to where Harry was and talked quietly,
"Have you finished your homework, Mr. Potter?" Harry nodded.
"Very well. Now, you are not in trouble, but the headmaster wishes to speak with you in his office." Harry made a face. He couldn't hide the hurt and anger he still felt towards Dumbledore.
"He only wishes to see you. It was not an order. But please, choose to speak with him."
"You don't ask much, do you?" said Harry acidly, forgetting for a moment from his tone to whom he was speaking. Snape raised an eyebrow. Harry gulped. "Sorry."
"You might find it helps, Harry." he said gently, with the last word quietly said so that no-one else could possibly overhear him call Harry by name. And with that, Snape returned to his study for the evening.
Harry read his book for a bit longer, but kept getting distracted. He was annoyed with himself that he couldn't' ignore the request. He kept thinking there was somewhere he should be. He'd snap out of that line of thinking and read and bit more of his book, but at one point, when he'd read the same sentence for the third time, he gave up, huffed, threw the book on the couch and left the common room.
Harry walked through the school annoyed with himself for complying. He knocked on the headmaster's door and waited for a response, hoping their wouldn't be one.
"Come in." Harry entered, suddenly nervous of all things. Dumbledore looked up from the papers he was working on.
Harry tried to decide what the expression on Dumbledore's face was. Guilt? No. Although it bloody should have been, Harry thought. Sadness? No. Regret? Maybe that was it. Dumbledore was unreadable.
"Harry," said Dumbledore, "Lemon drop?" Harry shook his head. He wasn't quite in the mood to share Dumbledore's sweets. "Please, have a seat."
Harry took one of the seats in front of Dumbledore's desk. He couldn't stop his eyes lingering on the desk. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Harry," said Dumbledore heavily, "I can only say I am sorry."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. There was a part of him full of rage, that just wanted to scream at him that he hadn't checked his facts, that he hadn't listened. Harry quelled that part. There was a part that wanted to burst into tears at the complete lack of trust the headmaster had shown in him. He wasn't about to show that part either. What was Harry meant to say? That he forgave him?
He'd forgiven Snape, he'd been the first person to believe him about Dudley, to look out for him, to investigate. He'd cared about Harry this year, and although things were going to be a bit awkward for a while, it'd be OK in the end.
He'd forgiven Professor McGonagall. She'd been duped by Dudley. He'd made himself seem whiter than white. She hadn't had as much to do with Harry this year. But she'd been genuinely upset on Monday in class.
But Dumbledore was different. He didn't seem genuinely remorseful. He didn't make a habit of accusing students of things they didn't do, but it just seemed to Harry that Dumbledore's apology was perfunctory. Did Dumbledore really care? Or was Harry just another student?
But then, did it matter? In all probability, next time a student was accused of something, someone would probably check more carefully.
From all the emotions that Harry had running round his head, despondency won out. He shrugged.
"Thank you." he said simply, not really bothered whether Dumbledore's apology was genuine or not, and not bothered whether Dumbledore cared if his apology was well received. What had happened had happened. And nothing could make it go away.
"Is that all, sir? May I go?"
"Yes, Harry." Dumbledore replied.
There it was, thought Harry, looking at Dumbledore's eyes, just a hint of something. Surprise? Disappointment? Maybe he cared just a little bit. Harry left his office and went back to the common room.
On Friday of that week the twins caught up with Harry on the corridor on his way to class after breakfast.
"You'll love Lockhart's classroom, Harry. We've done it just for you." said Fred quietly in his ear, and ran off. Harry was a little apprehensive as he continued on to DADA. But when he got to the room, he, like every other Slytherin there, and many students in the corridor, was nearly in tears with laughter. Lockhart's room had been redecorated. It was blue. All blue. The walls, ceiling, floor, desks, chairs, everything was blue. Lockhart's desk was blue and furry. And Lockhart, in contrast, was bright red. He was remonstrating with a house-elf, demanding to know why his room was blue.
"But Professor Lockhart, sir, you asked for it this way."
"I did no such thing!"
"But sir, your signature is on the order form for classroom redecoration, see?" said the elf, a parchment appearing magically it its hand.
"That's not my signa... oh." said Lockhart, and peered at it a little closer. At that moment Dumbledore arrived, he always seemed to know when there was a commotion somewhere in his school.
"Gilderoy, whatever is that matter? Beautiful room, by the way, I think I might have gone with green, personally." he said with merriment printed clearly on his face.
"Headmaster, the house-elves have redecorated my room. They say that I signed the order form. I did no such thing! This is a forgery." he said angrily waving the order form under Albus' nose.
"May I see it?" asked the headmaster, holding out his hand. Lockhart passed him the parchment. Albus carefully looked at the signature and then waved his wand over the parchment. The signature coloured a glittery blue for a moment and then returned to its usual black.
"No, Gilderoy, I'm afraid that this is, indeed, your signature. Perhaps, like I explained to you on Monday, you should take better care over what you sign." he said with a certain amount of satisfaction. "Good day, professor." and with that turned and left.
For the remainder of the day, Lockhart had to teach in a blue classroom, until the elves put it right during the night. After class Harry hurried to the library. He could have hugged the twins.
"What did you do? How did you know? I never told you any details of anything." Snape had explained to Harry what Dudley had done in detail in their weekly meeting that Wednesday, but Harry hadn't shared the details with his friends.
"We were out and about, like we do, on Monday evening after curfew and happened past Lockhart's classroom. He was getting a proper dressing down from Dumbledore. Dumbledore was telling him in no uncertain terms to watch what he signed, because he had been careless enough to sign for Polyjuice. We put two and two together and came up with blue." explained George happily.
"Just for you, little brother." said Fred at Harry affectionately. And that was just one of the reasons why Harry loved the twins so much.
