Chapter 36
A Giant Day
"When one considers that a single second can alter the course of history, a day becomes a very long time, indeed."
General (ret.) Jigme Dorji Wengshuk
"Not if Kenley kills him first…" Katy muttered.
Smack!
Not a second later, Kenley slapped Draco hard across the cheek.
"Ooooooohhhhhhhhh!" the crowd gasped.
Some in the crowd giggled, others moaned, while still others jeered. Draco staggered back a few steps, touching his reddening cheek. Harriet took a few steps forward.
Draco's mental walls had come crashing down. Harriet could feel everything as she looked at his stricken face. His world was whirling around inside his mind.
Harriet got flashes of images. She saw Mr Malfoy sitting in an empty room, staring off in forlorn despair. She saw Lord Voldemort pacing a large dining hall, his monstrous snake curled up on the table. She saw Mrs Malfoy floating in the air, surrounded by a glittering, semi-transparent sphere, hanging as if a disused marionette, lifeless.
Then it happened. She saw that horrid face again. That smirking, diabolical, oval face, pale with long, jet black hair.
Solomon Kinney.
Harriet stumbled back. Erica and Nan managed to grab her. Harriet opened her eyes in time to see Malfoy swing a leg over his broom and kick off, rocketing away as Kenley strode, indignant, back into the Slytherin changing rooms.
"You alright?" Damelza asked.
It was then Harriet noticed that all her team were gathered around her. She hadn't even stumbled that much, but their faces were all stricken with concern. Harriet felt embarrassed and deeply touched at the same time.
Around in the stands, no one seemed to have noticed her. Everyone was looking off in the direction Draco had flown. All except for two figures who were vaulting the railing and dropping to the ground.
It was Daddy and Finn. Harriet tried not to groan at Finn as he ran over. That was all they needed; Finn drawing attention to himself. Ronnie, Marcus, Hermione, and Scott were in hot pursuit, while Kieran was flying over to them as well. That might give a little cover.
"Are you alright?" Daddy asked as he reached her.
"Fine," Harriet said. "Just got a blast of Malfoy's mind…"
"Y'sure?" Finn asked, equally worried.
"Yes," Harriet said, straightening her uniform a bit.
"We should probably get out of sight before she notices," Hermione said under her breath, glancing at Finn.
"Yeah," Harriet mumbled in agreement.
"I… I should…" Kieran shifted awkwardly, glancing back at the Quidditch team which was huddled consolingly around Ginny, making their way to the team changing room.
She could see Mr and Mrs Weasley joining them, both giving Ginny hugs. Harriet could hear them in her mind; assuring Ginny how well she did, how it was only her first match. She also knew only too well that Ginny wouldn't believe it.
"Go ahead," Harriet said. "They need you, too."
Kieran gave Harriet a little smile before mounting his broom again and flying back across the pitch.
Harriet, her family, and friends all headed into the changing room. Harriet felt relieved to get out of the open. Not only was it safer, but the stands helped lift the weight of so many minds off hers.
"You okay, Harriet?" Erica asked. "Not like the attacks you had last year?"
"No," Harriet shook her head. "Nothing like that… just got glimpses of Malfoy's mind and… wasn't pretty…"
Katy crossed her arms. "Well what he gets just kissing my sister like that…"
"I thought it was romantic…" Romilda Vane admitted staring at her feet.
Katy rolled her eyes.
"Why did she slap him?" Harriet asked, rubbing her head, wanting to change the subject.
Finn grimaced. "She pro'ly didn't like being kissed w'out bein' asked," he said.
Harriet felt a tingle as he spoke. She liked the way his accent got thicker when he wasn't thinking.
It was then that Harriet got to take him in properly. He did look different, as he said he would. Daddy or the Weasleys must have altered his face a little. Most noticeably, his hair was red enough to make a Weasley jealous. His nose, cheeks, and brows were also slightly altered. Not vastly, but enough that people unfamiliar with him would probably look past him.
Damelza tilted her head, thinking the same thing.
"Didn't… you look…?"
"Different?" Minako asked.
Daddy chuckled a little, turning to wave to the Weasleys who'd just entered. "Finn here's 'undercover'," Daddy explained. "As such, we know you're Gryffindors and teammates, so we trust you, but still should make it clear that Finn here isn't 'Finn'."
"Oooooo," Romilda said, her eyes twinkling excitedly at the intrigue. "Secret love, how romantic…"
"S-something like that," Finn said, flushing a little.
Damelza rolled her eyes. Romilda stuck her tongue out at her. Harriet turned her attention to Daddy and Mum.
"There's something I have to tell you," Harriet said. "It's about Malfoy…"
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen…" Rosie grinned.
Nan elbowed her.
"Not about that," Harriet shook her head. "Something else. Something really private."
Daddy and Mum nodded slowly.
"Order stuff," Harriet mouthed, her back to the team.
Daddy's lips tightened with understanding.
"Well, let's take you around on your tour," Daddy said, forcing a smile back on his face and patting Finn hard on the back.
"So, if you're not you," Erica said, looking to Finn, "who should we tell people you are?"
"One of my cousin's sons," Mrs Weasley said. "Fabian Prewett, the second."
"That explains the hair," Harriet giggled.
Finn rubbed the back of his head. Harriet couldn't help but smile. It was the same nervous habit that Mr Weasley had.
Erica extended a hand to Finn. "Good to meet you, Fabes."
Finn smiled and shook her hand. "Cheers."
"Fabian here is visiting from Ireland," Mr Weasley said, laying a finger alongside his nose.
Finn grinned and stuck a hand in his pocket, and drew out—
"A wand?"
"Just a false one," Finn said, disappointed, giving it a shake.
It popped into a rubber chicken. He gave it another shake and it popped back into a wand.
"For looks."
"I found it whilst doing some cleaning in Fred and George's room," Mrs Weasley said apprehensively. "But since that's all it can do, we thought it would be safe enough."
Finn had to try very hard not to roll his eyes as he pocketed the fake wand again.
"Well, ladies," Daddy said, putting his hands on Harriet and Nan's shoulders. "We'll take these two off your hands for a while. You were all fantastic."
"And we must get back to Ginny, the poor dear," Mr Weasley added, sadly. "She wanted to take a shower… so we're giving her space."
"Thank you, Mr Dusk," Erica smiled. "We'll have a post-match meeting this evening, you two."
"Got it, Cap'n," Nan said, waving.
"You girls really were excellent," Mum added. "Oh, the memories that came flooding back…"
"We're hoping to get more people to sign up for next match," Erica said.
They bid Harriet's team goodbye and started heading up to the school.
"So, a Weasley now, are you?" Harriet asked, eyeing Finn cheekily.
"No, no," Finn chuckled. "A Prewett."
Harriet giggled. "My mistake."
"M'dad's Appollyon Prewett, Mum's Marella. We live down in Cork, got taught magic a'home," Finn explained, speaking as plainly as though this were the honest truth.
"Wow," Nan said, impressed.
Finn winked at her and tapped his temple. "Still pretty much just gotta tell me somethin' once and it sticks in'ere like glue."
Nan giggled.
They entered the school, Finn looking around wistfully.
"Bonkers," he muttered.
"Hmm?"
Finn shrugged. "For the first time in my life… I'm… I'm somewhere I remember."
Harriet squeezed Finn's hand. She knew what he meant. Last weekend Finn had gone into the memory of the night they met. For likely the first time since Finn's memory was wiped, he was being taken somewhere he'd 'seen' before.
"I mean not… remember but… I… I know this place… I've seen it before… now."
"You make perfect sense, dear," Mum smiled putting a comforting hand on Finn's shoulder.
Finn smiled sheepishly, squeezing Harriet's hand back. They started up the staircase.
"We'll go to Minerva's office," Daddy whispered. "Safest place right now."
After a few more minutes walking, they finally arrived. Daddy gave the password, "pfeffernusse," and after steadying Finn—who'd started a little at the sight of the gargoyle jumping out of the way—they started up the spiralling staircase.
It felt strange stepping back into the Head's office after so long. Harriet wondered if any other student had been in here quite as much as she had. The portrait of Professor Dumbledore was the largest, located right behind the desk that was once the real Dumbledore's.
Harriet looked to the perch where Fawkes once lived. Somehow, the sight of it sitting empty and unused was the saddest part of the room.
The office was certainly neater than Harriet ever remembered seeing it, but it still felt like Dumbledore's. Many of the delicate, silver instruments still covered the many tables and shelves.
Harriet pondered the perch again. It was the one thing of the room that Harriet was sure Professor McGonagall wouldn't really find useful. She wondered why Professor McGonagall had not removed it yet.
"Okay, we're alone," Daddy said. "What'd you see in Malfoy's head?"
"Just flashes of things… his guard was down for only moments… he's taken to Occlumency really well…"
Harriet's parents exchanged looks.
"Draco Malfoy's being taught Occlumency?"
"Yeah… Professor Snape was teaching him with me… didn't… didn't he tell you?"
Daddy and Mum gave each other even darker looks that answered Harriet's question for her.
Harriet took a breath trying to remember. "I saw… I saw his family… his mother really is imprisoned by Voldemort… she was in this sort of floating magical orb… she looked like she was asleep or something…"
Daddy and Mum exchanged worried looks.
"Then… the last thing I saw… I saw Kinney… like… looking at Malfoy… like Malfoy was talking to him. He was smiling… he was really happy about something."
Daddy started pacing. "Merlin's beard this gets more bullocksed up… Kinney and Lucius Malfoy working together… having his son work with that murderer…"
"Damn, now I kinda—"
"Rosie."
"Darn…" Rosie corrected. "Now I kinda feel bad about Kenley smacking him…"
Daddy continued pacing.
"Malfoy and Kinney… that… that is interesting…" Mum mused
"Lucius Malfoy was one of Voldemort's most loyal supporters," Daddy confirmed. "Going back to school. This changes a lot… we only ever had the slimmest of evidence that Voldemort actually took some of the family of his Death Eaters hostage, but now we know it's true…"
Daddy stopped his pacing and leaned back against Professor McGonagall's desk. He sighed, crossing his arms.
Mum almost at once began pacing in his place.
"We have to protect him…"
"Lucius or Draco?"
"Draco," Mum replied. "The boy doesn't deserve to be caught up in any of this."
Harriet couldn't help but remember Draco's attitude for her first couple years of Hogwarts. A part of her wanted to say that maybe Draco deserved a little of it. However, this was now affecting Mrs Malfoy. And Draco had changed so much. He was still so conflicted, but he was still changing.
Daddy sighed again uncertainly. "I don't know what we could do for him… trying to help him now might just make him a target for Voldemort and Kinney as much as help him…"
"I don't think so…"
Harriet was surprised by the sound of her own voice. She rubbed her forehead. She wasn't sure what was driving her thought, but it was the only conclusion in her mind.
"I… Voldemort… probably thinks he's totally got the Malfoys under his control…"
If I was Voldemort, and had Mrs Malfoy captive, that's what I'd think…
"And Kinney… Kinney just… ugh! I just—that's not how he works!"
It was Harriet's turn to pace. But she felt more manic than deep in thought. Thoughts were swirling in her head but she couldn't focus them. She felt Daddy and Mum's concern, she felt Finn's outright worry, her sisters' confusion.
"Kinney only kills when it means something… he's not… he doesn't just like… kill…"
Harriet stopped, taking a breath. Finn walked over taking her hands gently.
"Easy, Dove," he said softly. "Breathe…"
Harriet took a deep breath.
"Thanks…" She said softly.
Finn smiled. "Anytime…"
Daddy and Mum stayed behind in Professor McGonagall's office to talk with the Headmistress and present leader of the Order of the Phoenix about what Harriet had seen. Harriet, Finn, her sisters, and friends, were now with Mr and Mrs Weasley, touring the castle.
Dora and Kieran had finally caught up with them. Harriet couldn't help but notice Dora had 'neglected' to change out of her tight cheer pants and seemed to find lots of reasons to bend down or lean over in front of Ronnie anytime the Weasleys' backs were turned. Harriet could feel Ronnie's frustration building, and knew Dora was loving every second.
"I mighta thought twice 'bout the name if ya'd told me that," Finn muttered under his breath as Mrs Weasley recounted the time the school's previous caretaker, who was also named Apollyon, caught her and Mr Weasley out of their dorms after curfew.
Harriet now remembered Mrs Weasley recounting that tale from the year before. It certainly did a lot to tamp down any romantic thoughts Harriet might have been having were it not for the Malfoy incident. She now had a suspicion that Mrs Weasley might have decided upon that name for that very reason. She was definitely certain it had not been Mr Weasley's idea.
Harriet's mood was starting to dramatically improve. Finn was enjoying the acoustics of the Hogwarts corridors, singing boisterously in them, letting his voice carry up and down the halls. He looked deeply impressed when Dora actually joined in. They started walking ahead of the group a bit, singing merrily.
Ronnie hooked an arm in Harriet's, grinning.
"We're lucky girls," she said wistfully.
Harriet couldn't help but grin and giggle, too.
"Mine's got the nicer arse, though," Ronnie said.
"Ronnie!"
Ronnie sniggered.
"Hard disagree," Rosie mused studying Finn, her eyes twinkling with teasing mischief.
"Rosie!"
They were heading to Gryffindor Tower. Harriet was grinning so much her face was starting to hurt. Sure, it had stunk that Gryffindor lost the match, and what happened with Malfoy had been awkward, and she would have preferred Daddy and Mum be with them, but otherwise she was having a great time. It was a remarkably normal feeling, walking the hall with her friends, talking and laughing.
She should have known it would be too good to last.
They were almost to Gryffindor Tower when it happened. Around a corner stepped Fern. She was staring at Finn. Everyone froze.
Fern kept staring at Finn. Harriet saw the tears starting to flow in her eyes. She knew. Fern knew. It wasn't nearly a good enough disguise to have fooled her.
Fern took a step forward.
"You're safe…" She whispered.
"Fern…" Hermione said, warily.
"Oh," Finn said.
Harriet moved up beside Finn. His head tilted a little.
"You're Fern…?"
Fern sniffed and wiped her eyes. To Harriet's amazement, Fern smiled.
"Yeah, I'm Fern…"
Harriet had to know. She reached out with her mind. She visualised ethereal arms extending from her mind to Fern's. She had to see into Fern's mind and what she was thinking at that moment.
Fern was in turmoil. Her mind was fighting with itself. Harriet could sense the part still under the effects of Umbridge's love potions. It was raging. It was demanding to go to Umbridge at once.
At the same time, another part of Fern's consciousness was fighting it. All the while, the rest of Fern's mind was cowering. The part of Fern's mind just freed from the potion by Professor Snape's treatment was just shut down completely. It put Harriet in mind of two parents in the middle of a fight while their helpless child hid from the noise.
Fern hurried forward. Finn took a step back, but Fern caught him tight around the neck. She broke down at once, sobbing into his neck.
"Why are you here?!" Fern wailed. "I've missed you so much! Umbridge is going to find you, you have to get out of here!"
It was like multiple minds were taking control of Fern's mouth in turn. Her thoughts were completely disjointed.
"I have to go to her at once! She'll hurt you if you don't! Fuck her! No!"
Fern dropped to her knees on the floor. She grabbed and tugged at her hair. She emitted a bestial, guttural noise somewhere between a scream and a roar. No one moved. Everyone was too stunned by the bizarre spectacle unfolding before them to react.
"Stupefy!"
A jet of red sparks hit the small of Fern's back and she crumpled to the floor. Everyone turned.
Hermione's wand was drawn and aimed at Fern's fallen form. Hermione was trembling. Tears poured from her eyes. Her lip was quivering. She was radiating pain.
Kieran grunted moving forward, getting down beside Fern and rolling her over onto her back, checking her pulse then holding her hand.
"Oh, Mione," Marcus said and gently hugged Hermione around the shoulders.
Hermione turned and flung her arms around Marcus' neck. The pair held each other as Hermione bawled.
"We gotta get her out of sight," Dora said quickly, looking around. "There."
Mr and Mrs Weasley were both spluttering a bit, totally taken aback at the insanity that had just transpired. Finn and Scott moved up with Kieran. The three boys lifted Fern as gently as they could and carried her into an unused classroom beside them.
"What on earth just happened?" Mr Weasley asked as they got into the room.
"She's been being drugged by that hag, Umbridge," Hermione sobbed. "She was going mad… the part… her mind…"
Marcus hugged Hermione tighter.
"Professor Snape's been helping to ween her off of the potion," Harriet explained.
They had laid Fern down on the bare teacher's desk. Kieran was sitting beside her in a pulled-up chair, holding Fern's hand and rocking a little in his own anxiety.
Finn was shrinking back a little. There was guilt on his face and in his mind.
"Shouldn't have come…" Finn muttered. "Risked… sorry…"
Harriet moved to him and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"It's not your fault…" she whispered, soothing.
Finn started to relax, but Harriet could still feel his guilt tearing at him. Everyone was upset and afraid. Harriet clenched her eyes shut. It was starting to tear her down as well. She couldn't keep out so many pained minds at once.
The door swung open.
"Is something wrong…?"
Harriet blinked. That was the last voice she expected. Everyone turned around to see Professor 'Namander' standing in the doorway, looking on the scene with confusion and concern.
He took a few pained steps into the room, wincing and straightening his leg.
"I heard a commotion… probably hurried a bit more than my body was ready for…"
Scott glanced around the room and just shut the door behind Professor Namander. Harriet sighed and launched into telling Professor Namander what had happened. He was okay to tell. He was in the Order, wasn't he?
Professor Namander turned a sad, caring face on Fern. It was the same look he'd given her that awful night last summer.
"I… have something that will help…" Professor Namander said and turned to Scott, holding out a key to him. "Mr McIntyre… please go to my office. In my desk, top drawer on the right, is a vial. Label says: 'Swooping Evil'. Please bring it to me."
"Yes, Professor," Scott said, taking Professor Namander's key as though it was a priceless treasure, and hurried from the room.
"Swooping Evil…?" Kieran asked.
"Not the friendliest of names," Professor Namander chuckled awkwardly. "But… it should help."
The room fell silent except for Hermione's continued sobs. No one knew what to do or say. Harriet looked up at Finn. She wished she could take away his guilt.
The door opened and Scott poked his head back in.
"It's me," he said, turning and closing the door again. "Is this it, Professor?"
He held a small vial out to Professor Namander. The elderly man smiled gently and took it.
"That's exactly the one," Professor Namander replied. "Thank you."
"What does it do?" Kieran asked.
"It's diluted Swooping Evil venom," Professor Namander explained. "It has powerful memory erasing qualities."
Finn's body went rigid.
"The Swooping Evil is encephalophagus… means it eats brain matter. Not the… most pleasant of diets… but its venom affects memory. It also acts as a defence mechanism… doing double-duty as a venom and a poison… when the Swooping Evil sleeps, it curls into a little cocoon of sorts. If something comes along and bites it, the venom wipes the attacker's memory and it forgets what it was doing and wanders off."
Professor Namander uncorked the little vial.
"So, you're wiping her memory…?" Finn asked.
Harriet didn't need her Legilimency to detect Finn's growing sense of panic, anger, and disgust. Despite that, she felt her own stomach float and relief fill her. Fern would forget the whole thing. Finn wouldn't be in any more danger.
Professor Namander blinked at him a couple times, before adjusting his false beard.
"F-Finn, here, was… he was at Rathlin…" Harriet said giving Professor Namander a significant look.
Professor Namander's old eyes narrowed. Harriet could tell he remembered the name.
"The one… from that jar?"
Harriet nodded. "So… you're just going to…?"
Professor Namander held up a calming hand. "Just a drop will be needed to clear the last few minutes prior to her being stunned."
"This is wrong…" Finn declared.
"It's just so she'll forget the last few minutes…" Professor Namander said, trying to sound reassuring. "She'll wake relaxed and not have to worry about what happened—"
"It's wrong!" Finn said louder. "You're not wiping her memories 'cause I was daft and talked the Weasleys into bringing me here!"
"Finn, sweetie," Mrs Weasley soothed.
"Finn…" Harriet whispered.
Finn turned his eyes down to Harriet's. She looked back into them, putting her hands on his cheeks. His pain and anger burned her mind as she touched him.
"You can't agree with this?!" He asked, betrayal in his eyes. "You can't…" he said, his emotions welling up. "Not because of me…"
Professor Namander sighed and pocketed the vial. "He's right…"
Harriet hugged Finn tight.
"Sorry…" she whispered.
Finn hugged her back, but Harriet could tell he was hurt and worried. She clenched her eyes shut. She should have spoken up against modifying Fern's memory. Finn was right. Fern had already suffered Umbridge tormenting her mind. This wasn't going to help. But what were they going to do?
What were they going to do…?
Professor McGonagall had an answer. They were back in her office. Fern had been awoken and was sitting in one of the comfy arm chairs, wrapped in a blanket. Madame Pomfrey was inspecting her.
"I have sent a message to Madam Irene," Professor McGonagall explained. "She will take Fern into her care."
Fern said nothing. She didn't twitch. If Harriet wasn't able to feel the torment in her mind, she might have mistaken Fern for a mannequin.
Finn was standing with the Weasleys. He was staring at the floor. For once, Harriet was completely unable to read his mind. Not that she was trying. On the contrary, she was trying not to with all her might.
All Harriet could feel was shame. How could she have agreed so quickly? Sure, she was anxious to save Finn, but how could she have so quickly ignored how that would make Finn feel? After all Finn had been through?
"Isn't Fern required to attend Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in a tiny voice.
"The laws enforcing students to attend Hogwarts only truly extend to the parents which force them to send their children to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall explained. "Fern's mother has had her legal custody of Fern taken away, and so has no legal say in what happens with Fern's life, and on top of that she is a Muggle, and thus not subject to magical law. Meanwhile, Fern's father's whereabouts are still unknown."
Fern's head hung lower.
"Legally… Fern is in the custody of the Ministry," Professor McGonagall said. "But the Ministry's jurisdiction clearly does not extend outside the borders. As such, the MACUSA has offered Fern asylum."
Harriet looked up. "Does that mean…?"
Fern finally lifted her head. "I'm going to America…?"
"Yes, my dear," Professor McGonagall said with the same kindness she'd once given Harriet after the night of the troll.
Fern lowered her head again.
"Madam Irene still lives in America, where she is engaged in rebuilding her school," Professor McGonagall explained. "Fern, you will learn from her tutelage, and Madam Irene believes you will be valuable in assisting her with rebuilding the school and talking about governmental oppression."
Fern's head remained lowered, but she glanced at Professor McGonagall.
"You will be a symbol of hope, Fern," Professor McGonagall pressed.
Fern's eyes returned to the floor, but Harriet felt the weight off Fern's mind begin to lift. Harriet studied Professor McGonagall. She hadn't approved of many measures Professor McGonagall had taken this year, but this was good. This was right.
"As for you, Mister Negus…" Professor McGonagall said, turning her attention on him. "I understand you appreciate the gravity of what transpired today…?"
Finn looked across at Professor McGonagall.
"I appreciate that about a half year past… I had my memory wiped. Hundreds of kids had their memories wiped. And without batting an eye, you lot were willing to do the exactly same thing to Fern when she's already been through enough…"
"Mister Negus… to compare what happened to you and your schoolmates to how Professor Namander attempted to help Fern—"
Finn's eyes narrowed. "Forgive me if I, who lost my entire life before this, don't really see a difference…"
The room fell silent. Professor McGonagall was studying Finn shrewdly. Harriet was watching Finn. It was Finn as she'd never seen him before. Not in person.
This was the Finn who would take punches for his brother, and dish them back out.
Harriet wasn't sure why, but at that moment she looked back to Fern. She was going to live with Madam Irene.
Madam Irene.
"You have it in your power to be truly great, and to make this world a better place."
Harriet let Madam Irene's words wash back over her mind.
"You don't have to sacrifice to do this. You don't have to abandon anything that makes you: you."
"Finn's right."
Every eye turned to Harriet. Even the portraits on the walls were motionless.
"Us doing that to Fern, even just a couple minutes… that doesn't make us any better than Fudge and his Ministry…"
"In that case, you give the enemy weapons that you are unable to counter."
The voice had come from the wall. It was a snide, sneering voice.
"That will do, Phineas," Professor McGonagall said, warningly.
Harriet followed Professor McGonagall's gaze to one of the portraits. The figure inside had greying black hair with a high widow's peak. His face was clever and shrewd, with a goatee grown out into a pointed little beard. Somehow, he looked vaguely familiar to Harriet.
"And why should I silence myself in the face of childish impertinence?" the portrait asked.
"I'm not being impertinent!" Harriet declared, only too aware of the impertinent nature of that statement.
The portrait named Phineas merely raised his eyebrows higher, almost victoriously.
"I don't have to give up who I am to win!"
"No, you don't."
Harriet felt Daddy and Mum's hands on her shoulders. Harriet looked up at them. Both were beaming down at her with pride.
Finn was finally looking at Harriet again. The hardness was gone from his face.
Harriet still felt some shame. She tightened her lips.
"I… I…"
"Miss Potter and Mister Negus are both correct."
It was Professor Namander again. He'd been sitting so silently in a far corner that Harriet had quite forgotten he was there. He looked ancient, though Harriet knew he was younger than Dumbledore had been. The years had not been so kind to him. Harriet felt an overwhelming sense of pity for the elderly man.
"Once there was an incident in New York," Professor Namander said, not rising from his chair or looking around at anyone. "I… using a thunderbird… wiped the memories of the entire populace of New York City. Just a few days' worth, you understand…"
Professor Namander trailed off. No one spoke, waiting for his next words.
"It… at the time… I thought it was saving wizard and muggle kinds from worse fates… but now in my old age… I fear I merely prolonged the inevitable and have built the dam up to where it is going to burst…"
Professor Namander shifted, rubbing his aged forehead. He finally tugged off the false beard and tossed it aside.
"I took away the free-will of over six-million people that day. My intentions were good… but even in the best of times… the best of intentions can fail miserably. The truth is, even if we claim we hide in the shadows, we already extend a far too powerful hand over Muggles… we manipulate their government leaders to keep us 'safe' and keep ourselves secret… we're trying to hold back a flood that will come someday… and one day… the Muggles will wake up to this… and they will be angry."
Professor Namander sighed sadly. "And the war Grindelwald always wanted will finally happen."
Professor Namander turned and his aged eyes found Harriet's.
"I think that will be your job, before this is all over, Miss Potter… you will bring the two people's together. And to do that… you need to always hold onto that purity of spirit to do what is right, even if it goes against what both your head and your heart are telling you."
Harriet's stomach tightened.
"But… I didn't today… I let my fear for Finn…"
Harriet hung her head a little.
"Everyone's afraid, Miss Potter," Professor Namander said. "Everyone makes mistakes. That's learning. That's why you're in school. What defines you is how you move on from your mistake. I too quickly jumped to the same mistake, and I'm far older than you."
"Well said…" Finn agreed, conceding.
"In the heat of moments we can make the worst of decisions even with the best of intentions," Professor Namander continued. "It's the story of everyone's lives. Miss Mantovani… I am sorry I jumped too quickly to one in your case. I wish you well and the best of health in your new journey abroad…"
"Thank you, Professor…" Fern managed to whisper.
The room fell quiet. Harriet glanced at Finn once more. He returned it. Their eyes locked and Harriet's tense muscles relaxed, her mind stopped racing. They understood once another once again.
A few minutes later, Captain Kane arrived with some people Harriet did not recognise, but assumed they were there . They were there to take Fern to America. Hermione started crying. Harriet knew she felt like she was losing Fern all over again.
Fern hugged Hermione tightly.
"I'll be back…" Fern said gently. "This can't go on forever…"
"If you'd like you can accompany us to the departure point," Captain Kane offered to Hermione.
Hermione wiped her eyes. Marcus put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, giving her an encouraging squeeze. Hermione put her hand on his and nodded, rising from her seat with Fern. They began guiding Fern from the room. She stopped in the doorway.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
She looked back at Harriet. "For everything…"
Harriet shook her head. "No one should be put through what you've been through…"
A kindly looking witch with the ICW put her hand on Fern's shoulder. "We must be off quickly, dear, the Portkey is waiting."
Hermione put her arm around Fern's waist. Fern's arm trembled, but slowly, she put hers around Hermione's as well. The pair were ushered from the office, the door closing behind them.
Harriet wasn't sure when she would ever see Fern again. She supposed all she could do was be happy that Fern was going to be away from all this awfulness and get the help she needed. If anyone could turn Fern's life around, Harriet supposed, it was Madam Irene.
"We should probably get Finn home," Mr Weasley said, pushing a hand through his receding hair.
He sounded as though he was waiting for Professor McGonagall to start telling him off.
Finn stood from where he'd been slouching against the wall and crossed over to Harriet. Harriet bit her lip as Finn took her hands.
"Sorry…" he said softly.
"Me too," Harriet replied.
"…see you next weekend…?"
Harriet looked to Daddy and Mum. They both smiled kindly.
"Yes," Harriet said.
"Yes…" Professor McGonagall said. "And I must impress on all of you to not take this sort of a risk again…"
Harriet's mood had not improved much by dinner. She was glad she would get to go see Finn the following weekend and get away from Hogwarts, but the day had been so draining. They were still in the Great Hall.
Harriet couldn't bring herself to have an appetite, despite how hard she'd worked that morning and not had lunch. None of her friends had much of an appetite. Kieran and Hermione looked particularly miserable. Harriet could tell neither thought they were ever going to see Fern again. Harriet wondered if she ever would, either.
Harriet's guilt was beginning to grow. She pushed her plate away completely and started to get up. The reality of everything that had happened that day was starting to settle in.
No one said anything as Harriet started walking away. Of course Kieran and Hermione wouldn't want to talk to her. They must be hating her.
Poor Finn. He must be hating himself, too. He'd just come to surprise her. In the end, she pretty much endorsed wiping Fern's memory right in front of him. She hadn't even given it a second thought until Finn spoke up.
Harriet ran her hands through her hair. Why the hell couldn't anything go right for her? Ever?
Harriet heard the footsteps first. She looked over her shoulder and saw an older woman walking towards her. Harriet felt the woman was familiar but couldn't place her right away. There was recognition in the woman's face, and her expression was kind. Harriet couldn't feel her mind, yet she didn't feel threatened by the woman at all. If anything, her presence was a comforting one.
"Hello, Miss Potter," the woman said gently as she reached Harriet.
Harriet tilted her head at the woman's American accent.
"Hello…?"
The woman smiled wider. "I doubt you remember me… we only met once, but I'm Tina Scamander."
Recognition chimed in Harriet's mind. She felt conflicted at the horrible memory of that night back in Little Whinging, and comfort at the face of the nice lady who'd spoken so kindly and calmed her in the aftermath. Harriet also recognised some of Queenie's features, now that she recognised her Legilimency tutor's sister.
"Oh, I remember…"
Tina had the same gentle, understanding look on her face that she had that night. It was starting to make Harriet emotional again. She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to cry.
"Newt wrote me… said you had a hard day and might need someone to talk to. Let's have a seat," Tina offered, gesturing to a bench.
Harriet could only nod. Tina sat. She did not insist Harriet join her, letting Harriet take it at her own speed. Harriet hesitated, but finally walked over and sat beside the tall older woman.
"Boy trouble, huh?" Tina asked, her smile full of empathy.
Harriet hung her head.
"It'll work out, dear."
How does she know?
"I remember the first time I met Newt…" Tina said wistfully. "I arrested him."
Harriet snorted so hard she almost choked. "What?"
"Yeah," Tina smiled, and Harriet got the impression, that for a moment, she wasn't sitting on a bench in a Hogwarts corridor anymore. "He accidentally let a Niffler escape in a bank."
Harriet gaped. "Those little furry things that go mental over gold?"
"The same," Tina chuckled.
"I bet that was a nightmare…"
"Oh yeah, Newt ended up chasing it into the vault area. Head of the bank set off the alarm. Newt petrified him. Police swarmed the place."
Tina sighed and smiled, staring off into space, before she gave Harriet a kind look.
"You want to talk about it? Get it off your chest?"
That was all the prompting Harriet needed. Harriet poured everything out. It had been so long since she'd had a session with Sebastian, and there was so much on her mind, she couldn't help but fill in Tina on everything that had happened and gone through her mind, along with everything currently on her mind.
"Oh honey," Tina soothed gently. "No wonder you're all tied up in knots…"
Harriet's eye twitched as that statement meant something far different to her.
"I know it ain't what you're gonna want to hear, but love, sweetie, is one of the hardest things you can do."
No, definitely not what I want to hear…
"Lots of people never really get what love means. What love's really all about. Most folk see love as a destination. But love's a journey, sweetie. Especially romantic love. For everything you got in common with someone, you got something different from them. That's what Newt and I had to learn. It's what Queenie and Jacob had to learn."
Tina kept looking off into the distance. Harriet could tell she was recalling painful memories.
"Love wasn't easy for Newt and Me, or Queenie and Jacob. We met right in the middle of Grindelwald's campaign of terror. It was a war that tore the whole world apart."
Sounds familiar…
"Queenie was vulnerable… perhaps the most vulnerable. I think Legilimens like you are most drawn to Muggles. I think it's because of their open minds. It's easier to find the ones you can really trust. Not like other witches and wizards…"
Tina sighed. Harriet narrowed her eyes. Where was Tina going with this?
"My sister… she fell head over heels for Jacob. No idea what she saw in him at first… but Jacob was loyal… he was kind, and he was brave. He was so very brave. He was in the Great War. The First World War, the Muggles called it, after the second one. He faced magic without a second thought after learning what it was. He never questioned anything if it would help his friends."
Tina lowered her own eyes. "But it still wasn't that easy. It was illegal for magical and Muggle people to marry in America in those days. Jacob didn't want to marry because he was trying to protect Queenie. He was so worried about her safety he didn't stop to think about what he was really doing to her."
Harriet glanced up at Tina. That sounded familiar.
"And Queenie was so wrapped up in her own feelings, she never stopped to try and think about why Jacob felt the way he did."
Harriet became quite interested in her feet again.
"It happens to all couples, honey," Tina said. "It's just part of life and part of love. More of than not, the people who're meant to be pull through. Things weren't always so great for Newt and I… even after the whole 'arresting him the first time we met' thing."
Harriet tilted her head.
"A short time after that… I was reinstated as an Auror. Newt… wasn't very happy about that. At the same time… a newspaper article came out that Newt had got back together with his old flame, Leta Lestrange…"
Tina scoffed and shook her head. "It wasn't my proudest moment… I was already hurt from Newt's opinion on Aurors I didn't bother to verify that it really was him. In the end… it turned out to be his brother Theseus who was with Leta…"
Tina fell silent.
"The point is, Harriet," Tina finally continued. "Don't judge anything about your future based on today. This Finn sounds like a special guy."
Harriet wiped her eyes. "He is…"
"And you're a darn special young woman," Tina said. "Don't let the little mistakes get to you and drive you off your path. Even if you two are meant to be, you'll have disagreements again in the future. They're never the end, unless you let them be."
Tina trailed off, looking away, then gave a short laugh.
"Within reason… I mean if you find out he's cheating on you, or secretly drowns puppies or something, that's obviously a deal-breaker."
Harriet snorted with dark humour. The pair chuckled, falling quiet again. After a moment, Harriet couldn't help but give an exasperated snort.
"How come every adult in the world wants to give me advice this year…?"
"Because every adult was once in your shoes and wants you to learn from their mistakes rather than letting you go through the pain of making them yourself," Tina explained. "Which I suppose in itself can be counter-productive… we learn best when we make mistakes ourselves."
Harriet pondered that. Grudgingly, she had to admit it made sense. It made a lot of sense. Though if she was honest, she supposed that maybe learning from other people's mistakes was the better way to go.
"Thanks…" Harriet said. She meant it, but her exhaustion was starting to win her over.
"You're very welcome, dear," Tina said. "I see why Queenie likes you so."
"I like her, too…"
Tina smiled looking around the hallway. "You know, I've never really been in here before. So different from Ilvermorny."
"What was Ilvermorny like?"
Tina turned her kind eyes on Harriet.
"How about this? Give me a tour of Hogwarts, and I'll tell you all about Ilvermorny?"
"Okay," Harriet said, and at long last smiled.
They rose, Harriet offering an arm to Tina to help her to her feet and headed back towards the entrance hall. Harriet was explaining about the suits of armour when they heard raised voices.
"What on earth?" Tina pondered.
They reached the top of the stairs and looked down into the entrance hall. Harriet's throat tightened. It was Mr Malfoy. He was down in the middle of the entrance hall, looming over the hunched figure of Draco.
"Is this how your mother and I raised you…?" Mr Malfoy said.
The students gathered around them were so silent that Harriet could hear Mr Malfoy's voice carrying all the way up to them on the top landing. Mr Malfoy was furious. He had to be to be having this fight in the middle of a crowd of gathered students.
Even from here, Harriet could see Draco's hands were curled into fists, though his shoulders were slouched and his head low. She couldn't hear Draco, but his father spoke as if Draco had replied.
"Your mother… in her… poor health… and here you are… acting romantically with… one of… them."
Harriet leaned on the railing as she watched the scene.
"Mister Malfoy!"
It was the stern voice of Professor McGonagall joining the fray as she swept out of the Great Hall.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"This does not concern you, McGonagall," Mr Malfoy said. "This is a discussion between father and son."
"You are standing in my school, Mr Malfoy; addressing one of my students, Mr Malfoy; in a raised, threatening voice, in front of a myriad of staff and student witnesses, Mr Malfoy. And when you are standing within my school, you will address me as Professor McGonagall, or Headmistress."
Mr Malfoy went a shade of puce that Harriet always associated with Uncle Vernon at his most dangerous. However, Draco finally spoke clearly enough for Harriet to hear.
"Kenley…"
The school went silent again. Draco's shoulders were raising, as was his head.
"You don't care about me…" Draco said. "You've never cared about me… Kenley's the only one who ever has…"
"What nonsense…"
"It's not nonsense!" Draco declared. "All my life… I've never been good enough for you… no matter what I did… you've never cared what I want… you still don't! You never will!"
Mr Malfoy was motionless.
"You constantly pushing me to hit on Potter, to make her fall in love with me! Like that's even how it works!"
Even though the only person who knew Harriet was there, Harriet felt a strong temptation to slowly duck down behind the railing, out of sight.
"I even took a Bludger for Potter! It broke my arm then that gormless gonk Lockhart vanished my bones! I had to spend a whole night getting them regrown! Everyone thought I was just being a twat, but Kenley knew! Kenley saw what I did! She told me how brave I was taking that Bludger so it wouldn't hit Potter when she didn't see it coming! She was the only person who'd ever looked at me and saw something… More!"
Draco paused finally having to take a breath.
"I didn't realise it at first… but I… the more she and I were together… the more I knew she was the person I wanted to be with! But I couldn't tell her that! I had to keep pretending because of you and mother and your twisted friends! And now even if she doesn't want me, I can never go back to being like you and—"
Draco shirked back as Mr Malfoy's hand flew up, ready to come down across Draco's cheek. It didn't happen. Instead, there was a flash of light and Mr Malfoy was flung backwards, into the heavy entrance doors. Harriet was reminded of the night of the Chamber of Secrets, when Dobby had blasted Mr Malfoy with a spell to save Harriet from him.
It wasn't Dobby this time. Harriet had been too caught up in the spectacle to notice that Tina had moved down the stairs. She now stood at the edge of the circle of students, her wand pointed at Mr Malfoy's prostrate form.
She looked completely transformed. She was no longer the ninety-year old woman with the kind smile. Her back was straight and her arms wide in perfect spellcasting form. Power radiated from her. Harriet's jaw hung open, awestruck and admiring.
Professor McGonagall was watching Tina with an unreadable expression. She turned her imperious eyes to Mr Malfoy.
"Thank you, Mrs Scamander. I believe that is your invitation to leave, Mr Malfoy."
Mr Malfoy wasn't looking at either woman. His face was fixed on Draco. His face was as unreadable as Professor McGonagall's. Harriet couldn't tell if it was despair, betrayal, or self-loathing. Perhaps it was all three at once.
Mr Malfoy got to his feet. He shook out his travelling cloak, brushed back his hair, took one last, long, fathomless look at Draco, and swept into the chill evening.
Draco took a step backwards. He was shaking a little. Tina and Professor McGonagall were walking up behind him, but another figure stepped out from the crowd as well.
"Draco…" Kenley said softly "you really meant all that…"
Draco didn't say anything, as Harriet noted he often didn't when he didn't want to admit the truth, but couldn't deny it, either. He cast his eyes upon the floor.
"Let's get you some tea, Mr Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said gently. "Miss Tyler, you are perfectly free to join us. It seems… you and Mr Malfoy here have a lot to talk about."
"Yes, Professor…" Kenley said.
The quartet of Professor McGonagall, Draco, Kenley, and Tina began ascending the staircase towards Harriet. She just watched them come. The only one to acknowledge her was Tina, who gave her a sad smile as she walked with Kenley.
Draco looked hollow. His face was blank, and his head still lowered. Harriet couldn't begin to imagine what he was feeling. Draco's eyes were not walled over. He was not using his Occlumency, yet at long last, Harriet felt she was able to draw back her Legilimency. No one had any right to be looking into Draco's mind at that moment.
It was a very subdued environment in the Gryffindor common room that night. Despite Kieran's triumph as a keeper in his first outing for Gryffindor, only allowing one goal in exchange for seven on the Slytherins, and his new moniker of O'Brien the Lion which had stuck like glue, he looked utterly defeated.
Erica had called off the team meeting in the wake of all that had happened.
"We have tomorrow," she informed the team. "No sense dragging out anything else today."
It was now almost ten o'clock. Hermione was sitting over in the window. Harriet knew she was writing a letter to Fern.
Harriet still couldn't get over her guilt at costing Hermione more time with Fern. Even if the most rational part of her mind told her it wasn't truly her fault, she couldn't help it. Everything was getting bullocksed up, as Daddy had put it.
Kieran grunted, his brace squeaking as he got to his feet.
"Think I'll turn in…" he said to no one in particular.
Hermione looked up from her quill and parchment. "Try and sleep well…" she said softly.
"Thanks…" Kieran said, still looking at the floor.
Hermione gave him her best attempt at a smile and brushed back her curls, looking out the window at the grounds.
At that moment, Hermione let out a sudden gasp that made Harriet almost jump out of her skin and Crookshanks, who'd been curled up in Harriet's lap, yowled in surprise and leapt onto the floor.
"The blazes?" Ronnie spluttered, clutching her chest.
"Hagrid!" Hermione declared, standing and pointing out the window into the grounds with a shaking hand. "It's Hagrid! He's back!"
Harriet, Marcus, Ronnie, and even Kieran, stampeded to the window. Sure enough, after months, there was the happy sight of a light in the window of Hagrid's hut, and an unmistakable, oversized shadow standing in the grounds while a happy canine bounded around it.
It took them longer than usual to get out into the grounds. There were too many of them to fit under Harriet's cloak in one go, and so it took several trips. They also had to make trips over to Ravenclaw tower then down to the Slytherin common room in order to fetch Scott and Dora. Kieran also had to discard his brace in exchange for his old walking stick, as the brace squeaked far too much.
As a result, it was nearly midnight by the time they started sneaking across the grounds to Hagrid's hut. Harriet was in the lead; her excitement wouldn't let her be anything but the first to Hagrid's cabin. Dora was trailing behind, taking care to cover their tracks in the mud and bits of snow.
Harriet was trembling with happiness when she finally rose her hand to knock on the door. Dora quickly put a hand on Harriet's shoulder and tugged her back. Harriet heard it too a moment later. Hagrid was not alone in his hut.
Harriet's blood went ice cold as they hurried out of sight around the side of Hagrid's cabin. Not a moment too soon, as at that moment the door swung open and Dolores Umbridge stomped out onto the step.
"You're inspectin' us?" Harriet heard Hagrid ask.
"Oh, yes," she heard Umbridge's venomous words. "The Ministry is determined to weed out unsatisfactory teachers, Hagrid. Goodnight."
Umbridge shut the door with a hard snap and began waddling her way back to Ursula House. Harriet was tempted to hex her, but her senses won out. Instead, she crept back in front of Hagrid's hut once Umbridge was fully out of sight and knocked on the front door.
Hagrid's expression was wary as he opened the door. Harriet knew he expected it to be Umbridge returning, but didn't care as she charged into the open door and threw her arms around Hagrid's oversized waist as best she could.
"You're back!" she declared, tears of joy already forming in her eyes.
Hagrid recovered quickly enough, and Harriet felt his giant hands rest gently on her back in the best form of a hug Hagrid could do on those so much smaller than him.
"Shoulda known you'd all be down," he said kindly. "Haven't been home a minute."
Everyone else pressed in, hugging Hagrid as well. Fang whined with puppy-like happiness as he bounded around them all, his long tail knocking most everything off every flat surface in the vicinity, sticking his big nose in everyone's necks and under their arms, trying to get hugs and pets, which he got in spades.
"Oh, Hagrid, we're so—Oh, Hagrid!" Hermione exclaimed in fright.
Harriet looked up and gasped involuntarily as well. Hagrid looked simply dreadful. His hair was matted with congealed blood. His left eye was almost completely shut under a massive purple swelling of a bruise. He was covered in cuts and bruises on almost all of his visible skin. He clutched his side and winced as he moved. Harriet was sure that was a sign of broken ribs.
"What happened?" she asked, fear and worry rising in her mind.
"It's nuthin'," Hagrid said at once. "Nuthin' to worry yerselves 'bout. Want a cuppa?"
"Come off it!" Ronnie said. "You're in a right state!"
"I'm tellin' yeh, I'm fine," Hagrid pressed, but his face, despite the damage, was positively beaming as he looked them all over. "Blimey, it's good to see yeh all again. Have good summers?"
"Who attacked you?" Kieran asked.
"Fer the las' time, it's nuthin'," Hagrid said firmly, finally starting to sound annoyed.
"Would you say that if it was one of us who turned up looking like that?" Dora asked, her hands on her hips.
"You should go and see Madame Pomfrey at least," Hermione said trying to sound kinder. "Some of those cuts look rather nasty…"
"I'm dealin' with it, a'right?"
Hagrid crossed the cabin in one step, plopping down in his massive chair by his dinner table. He tugged a dinner cloth off the table, revealing a bloody, green steak about the size of a car tyre.
"That dragon?" Ronnie asked, interested.
"Yep."
Hagrid moaned as he slapped the massive steak over his swollen eye, green blood pouring down his cheek into his beard. Fang whimpered and wagged his tail watching the steak, clearly hoping for a bite.
"Hagrid, that's poisonous!" Hermione gasped.
"Right, helps with the stingin'," Hagrid explained. "Not m'first rodeo."
Everyone gave each other 'that's fair' looks.
"So, how were the giants?" Scott asked, shrewdly.
Hagrid spluttered and dropped the steak.
"Giants?! Who told yeh? How'd you know?!"
Harriet grimaced. "Well… we all kind of guessed…"
Hagrid rolled his beetle-black eyes. The kettle began to whistle, and Hagrid threw the steak back down on the table, hobbling up to fetch it off the fire.
"Never knew kids like you lot fer knowing mor'n'you'oughta," Hagrid muttered, pouring boiling water into his bucket shaped mugs. "An' I'm no' complimentin' ya, neither! Nosy, some'd'call it. Interferin'."
Hagrid's tone was stern, but his beard and moustache were twitching.
"So, I'm guessing you found the giants?" Marcus said, taking in Hagrid's appearance.
"Yep," Hagrid said, taking his seat again, slapping the steak back over his eye.
"They're not all tha' difficult to find," Hagrid continued. "Pretty big an' all."
"Where are they?" Ronnie asked, her voice full of interest.
"Mountains," Hagrid said enigmatically.
"Come on, Hagrid," Ronnie pressed. "Tell us all about it and we'll fill you in on everything that went on with us. Like Harriet getting saved by Solomon Kinney."
Harriet grimaced. That wasn't the way she wanted to remember that incident.
Hagrid spluttered, almost dropping his mug, and actually dropping his steak which splatted on the floor.
"What?!"
"You mean… you hadn't heard…?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno about nothing that's happened since I left," Hagrid said, fishing around for the steak blindly under the table. "Couldn' have owls followin' me 'round, could I? Solomon ruddy Kinney? Savin' yer life? Yeh're not serious."
"More or less…" Harriet admitted. "My… my cousin's friends attacked me…"
Harriet launched into the story. She could tell Hagrid wasn't going to budge until he heard the whole tale, and she wanted to just get it out of the way. Hagrid stared, transfixed. He'd completely forgotten about the steak, which Fang was grunting and tugging at on the floor. Apparently, it was too tough for even him to tear apart and eat.
"So, are you going to tell us about your summer then?" Harriet said, changing the subject back to giants.
Hagrid sighed and finally ducked under the table as best he could, yanking the steak out of Fang's maw. Hermione grimaced.
"Oh Hagrid, don't, it's not hyg—"
With another loud splat, the steak slapped over Hagrid's eye and he relaxed again.
"Alright… yeah, Madame Maxime and I went to look fer the giants… We set off right after term ended."
Hagrid smiled reminiscently.
"Y'know… she's a right noble, high-born woman and she didn't think nuthin' of roughin' it out in the wild. Never complained once. Anyway, Dumbledore told us where they was. Not that they're difficult ter find. Folk know where they are, just not bothered to go botherin' them. Like keepin' them well enough away. Took us about a month ter get there."
"A month?!" Ronnie exclaimed. "Why didn't you just apparate or use a Portkey?"
"Cuz we're bein' watched," Hagrid said, giving Ronnie an almost pitying look. "Same with ever'one close ter Dumbledore. Was a smart move, 'im leavin' though. Lot of the suspicion died down. In fact… we'da expected them trying ter' interfere more."
"That'll be because of Rathlin," Dora growled.
"Wha? Wha'bout Rathlin?"
Harriet and the rest launched into the sad tale. Hagrid was just as mortified.
"The Ministry attacked bleedin' kids? An' that hag what was standin' in here was behind it?! Iff'n I'da known—"
"Shh!" Harriet soothed, putting a hand on Hagrid's arm. "We're handling it."
They pressed Hagrid harder and at last he moved on with the rest of his tale.
"Well, we made a show of vacationin' around Dee-John—"
"Oh, Dijon! That's where my cousin lives!" Hermione said brightly.
Ronnie raised an 'is that relevant right now?' eyebrow.
"That's where we managed ter give the berk trailin' us the slip. If the Ministry's in trouble with the In'ernational Confed'ration ah Wizards that'd explain how we got away so easily," Hagrid nodded. "Not wantin' ter get caught snoopin' around in other country's turf. Anyway, it was pretty smooth sailin' from there ter the Polish border, where we got in a scuffle with some mad trolls… then I got inter a disagreement with a vampire in Minsk… Yeh think I'm in a state now, shoulda seen me aft'that vampire 'ad his way with me. Don't go upsettin' a proper vampire, I don' mind tellin' ya. Size don't mean much when it comes to magic, and them vampires got loads of it."
"What did you disagree about?" Scott asked, his eyes bright with interest.
"Doesn' matter," Hagrid said. "We got to the proper mountains after that. We had ter lay off the magic again after that. We weren't bein' tailed no more, but cuz giants don't particularly like wizards much, and we didn't want them puttin' up their backs too quick like. Also, cuz we was warned that You-Know-Who'd be sure ter have folk of his own out lookin' fer the giants, too."
Hagrid took a long draught of his tea.
"Finally found 'em. Crested a ridge one night and there they were, spread out b'neath us. Fires burnin' all around and huge shadows. Like watchin' bits of the mountain movin' about."
"How big were they?" Marcus asked.
"Twenty ter twenty-five feet I'd say, av'rage. Seventy ter eighty in all," Hagrid said sadly.
"That few…" Hermione said sadly.
Hagrid nodded. "Yep… all tha's left… Was loads once. Musta once been near a hundred diff'rent tribes all 'round the world. But they been dyin' off fer ages. Not just wizards killin' 'em, neither. Mostly killed each other. Not meant ter live so bunched up. Our fault, o'course. Had to move together like that fer defence. S'pose the dwarves'll be right chuffed ter get their mountains back."
Everyone waited with bated breath for Hagrid to continue. Despite his earlier protestations, he now seemed quite content to divulge all the details of his adventures.
"We waited til mornin'. Didn't want ter go sneakin' up in the dark on 'em for our own safety. Wasn't till 'bout three in the mornin' they all fell asleep just where they sat. We couldn' sleep. Didn't want one findin' us by accident and couldn't get past the noise. The snorin' was unbelievable. Caused an avalanche near dawn. Once it got light, we fin'ly went down ter see 'em."
"You just walked up to them?" Scott asked, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Dumbledore left us notes on how best ter do it," Hagrid said. "Yeh give the Gurg gifts."
"The what?"
"The Gurg," Hagrid said. "Means 'chief'. Yeh approach the Gurg with your gifts held high over your head, makin' it clear they're fer 'im."
"How did you know who the Gurg was?" Kieran asked.
Hagrid chuckled. "Not 'ard. E's the biggest and the strongest, but also the ugliest and the laziest. Just sat there on 'is sort of throne waitin' fer the others ter bring 'im food. Name was Karkas."
"Fittin'…"
Hagrid chuckled again.
"Didn't they try and kill you when they saw you?" Marcus asked.
"It was on some of their minds, no doubt," Hagrid admitted. "But we kept our eyes on the Gurg and held out our gifts like Dumbledore said. They all hung back and let us get on with it, layin' our gifts at the Gurg's feet."
"What'd you bring him?" Ronnie asked.
"A branch of Gubraithian Fire," Hagrid said.
Hermione, Marcus, Scott, and Dora all gasped softly.
"What?" Ronnie blinked.
"Everlasting fire," Hermione said shortly. "Professor Flitwick's mentioned it at least twice in class."
Harriet and Kieran both shrugged. Clearly that hadn't been enough for either of them to have remembered it any more than Ronnie.
"Anyway, we told 'im that it was a gift from Perfessor Dumbledore, who bewitched it fer him, which wasn't somethin' just any wizard can do."
"I'll say," Marcus, who had a strong proclivity for fire magic, muttered.
"What did Karkas say?" Dora asked, excited.
"Nuthin," Hagrid said. "Didn't speak English."
Ronnie snorted.
"So 'ee yelled fer a couple of his tribe 'oo did speak our lingo and they translated. 'Ee was tickled pink when he realised what it was. Giants are dead chuffed about magic, just don't like us usin' it on 'em. So we told 'im we'd be back to give 'im another gift the next day, and we'd talk with 'im on Perfessor Dumbledore's behalf then."
"Why'd you have to wait till the next day?"
"Dumbledore told us ter take it slow, and let 'em see we keep our promises. Tell 'em we'll come back with another present, and then when we do, it'll make a good impression. Show we're trustworthy. Also give 'em time ter test out the first gift and make sure it works."
Hagrid shivered. "B'sides, a giant like Karkas, overload 'em with information too quick and they'll kill yeh just ter simplify things. We then bowed out of the village nice and quiet like, and found ourselves a cave ter kip in overnight. Next mornin' we went back and Karkas was sittin' up already awaken and waitin' fer us."
"What was your gift that time?"
"A goblin-made, indestructible battle helmet. He was right tickled 'bout that. So, then we sat down and we talked. Karkas just listened mostly. There was plenty a'good signs. He'd heard a'Dumbledore, and that he'd tried ter stop the killing of the last giants in Britain. He was dead in'erested in hearin' more of what Dumbledore 'ad ter say. A lot'er the ones who spoke English were in'erested as well."
Hagrid sighed deeply.
"We promised ter come back the next mornin' with another gift… but that night, it all went wrong. Like I say… not meant ter live so grouped up like tha'. They half kill each other every other week. The men fight each other… the women fight each other… the remnants of old tribes fight each other…"
Harriet put a comforting hand on Hagrid's arm.
"That's without even the squabbles o'er the best sleepin' spots and food… yeh'd think with how few left there are, they'd lay off each other…"
Hagrid fell silent. Being half-giant, Harriet and the rest knew how sensitive the subject was to him, and so let him gather himself to continue.
"A fight broke out that night. Was 'orrible ter listen to. Worse ter see. Could see it all from the mouth o'our cave. Lasted fer hours. When it ended, the snow was all red, and Karkas' head lay at the bottom of their little lake…"
More silence fell over the little hut.
"Come mornin', there was a new Gurg, Golgomath. We 'adn't counted on a new Gurg so soon… but we had to keep tryin'. So we went down ter talk ter 'im instead, though we were sure 'ee wouldn't be as keen ter talk with us as Karkas 'ad been."
"You went to talk to him, even though he'd just ripped off another giant's head?" Ronnie gaped.
"'Course," Hagrid said. "Hadn't gone all that way ter give up after just two days, did we?"
That pricked in Harriet's mind. She wanted to contemplate it farther, but Hagrid pressed on with his story.
"We took the next present and went down ter meet with Golgomath. I knew it was going to be no go at once. 'Ee was sittin' there leerin' at us, wearing Karkas' 'elmet, and no sooner 'ad I opened my mouth than two of his mates grabbed me, hanging me right upside down by m'feet."
"How did you get away?" Scott gasped.
"Olympe," Hagrid replied. "Wouldn'ta done w'out her there. Whipped out her wand and did some o'the fastest spellwork I'd ever seen in m'life. Brilliant it was. Hit the two holdin' me up with Conjunctivitis Curses and they dropped me straightaway. We had ter leg it after that, cuz we'd used magic against 'em. Nothing riles up giants more! We ran up inter the mountains. It was rough goin' from there, cuz we knew there weren't no way we were gonna get back inter the camp after that."
"But… if you were only there three days? How are you only getting back now?" Hermione asked.
"We didn't leave after that," Hagrid exclaimed. "Dumbledore was relying on us!"
"But…"
"We couldn't go back inter the camp, definitely not in daylight, but we stuck around to watch the camp. What we saw weren't good…"
"Did Golgomath kill more giants?"
"No… but wouldn'ta minded 'im doin' a bit more killin'," Hagrid growled.
"What do you mean?" Kieran asked.
"Death Eaters," Hagrid grunted. "Led by Macnair…"
"The nutter who was going to execute Buckbeak?"
"The very same," Hagrid said miserably. "Likes killin' as much as Golgomath. S'pose that's why they got on so well."
"So… the giants are going to fight for the Death Eaters…?" Marcus asked, sounding deflated.
"'Old yer hippergriffs, I'm not done with m'story yet," Hagrid waved a dismissive hand. "Not all of the giants were fans of Golgomath or the Death Eaters. There was still some around who were fans of Karkas and wanted to hear what Dumbledore had ter say. We had ter get in touch with them."
"How could you tell which ones were which?" Scott asked.
"They was the ones lying about beaten ter pulp," Hagrid explained. "And some of the smarter ones'd'legged it inter the mountains themselves, hidin' in caves. So we decided to poke around at night ter try and find 'em and see if we could persuade 'em."
"You just wandered into caves at night looking for giants?" Dora asked, sounding deeply impressed.
"Wasn't really the giants at that point what had us worried ter be honest," Hagrid said. "It was the Death Eaters. They was lookin' fer us the same time we was lookin' fer the friendly giants. 'Spect Golgomath told 'em 'bout us. Was lots'o cat and mouse goin' on around the mountains at night. Night after night. There were too many o' them though. Olympe kept wantin' ter jump out and do 'em all in… she's somethin' when she gets good and riled, Olympe."
Hagrid poured everyone more tea.
"Finally, we found a cave with some of the survivors in it. Only three of them."
"Still must have been a bit cramped," Ronnie muttered.
"Wasn't enough room ter swing a Kneazle," Hagrid said. "Probably would'r attacked us if they'd been in any shape ter. They'd been thrashed pretty badly, could barely stand. We lucked out, though, one of 'em was the ones what could speak English. We got through ter em, and a few in the other caves. Reckon by the end of it we had six'r'seven convinced."
Marcus whistled. "That'll help alright…"
"Yeah, woulda," Hagrid said ominously.
"Oh no…" Dora groaned.
"Yeah… Golgomath and his crew found 'em. The few that survived didn't want nuthin' ter do with us after that…"
"So… no giants…?" Kieran asked.
"Dunno… doubt it… but… some of 'em liked what we had ter say… maybe when Golgomath and 'is crew come, they won't…? Or… maybe they'll still join us once they get away from 'im…?"
The group fell silent. No one thought Hagrid really believed that. It was just the tiniest bit of hope left.
"It's not the end of it all, though," Hagrid said. "Just… thought maybe… if we could get some giants ter join us… maybe folk'd think diff'rent about 'em…"
"What else is there?" Scott asked.
"Well, one of the other hopes we have is the dwarves," Hagrid said though his tone was dark. "But… they're not makin' it easy."
"Why not?" Kieran asked.
"Because they want their mountains back… where the giants're still livin' terday."
Harriet sighed, remembering that.
"Feels like either way… the giants're doomed," Hagrid hung his massive head.
Harriet rose and hugged his arm.
"But we can't let You-Know-Who win… We gotta do somethin'… and it were the dwarves' mountains before we drove the giants inter them…"
Hermione gave a little shriek. The knock on the door was quiet, but it was so unexpected it caught them all off guard.
"Should have known," Remus chuckled quietly from the other side of the door.
"Professor Lupin!" Hermione gasped; her shock now replaced with excitement.
The door opened and the smiling face of Remus appeared in the doorway, stepping inside. The snow was starting to come down in earnest now, his hair and shoulders coated in it.
"Welcome back, Hagrid," Remus said smiling warmly.
"Cheers, Remus," Hagrid replied.
"Minerva wants to debrief you, if you're up to it…?"
"S'pose I should," Hagrid sighed.
"Right, let's get you all back to the school," Remus said kindly. "You can all see Hagrid without risking detentions tomorrow."
"Yes, Remus," Harriet said.
"Yes, Professor Lupin," the rest chorused.
Half an hour later, Harriet was back in bed. DIDS was snoring, sound asleep. Harriet shook her head, pondering the little dragon. Sometimes she was sure he was more than just a toy.
It was easier to think about DIDS at that moment. Everything else to think about from the day was too much. How had all of that happened just that day? The match, Finn surprising her, Draco kissing Kenley, Kenley smacking him, on and on it had gone. Now Fern was gone.
It finally hit Harriet. Fern was gone.
Tap. Tap. Tip.
Harriet sat up. It had come from the window. Harriet pulled back her bedcurtains. She slowly crept to the window, drawing her wand from under her pillow. She wasn't sure why she was so worried. They were so high up.
Harriet squinted. There was a little bird on the sill, flapping and tapping at the glass.
Harriet gasped with delight. It was Obelix, Finn's puffin!
Harriet flung the window open as fast as she could. The little puffin fluttered inside, along with a gust of chilly winter air. Harriet caught the little puffin in her arms and hugged him tight. He squawked in protest but did nothing else as Harriet shut the window.
Harriet started fumbling with the letter on Obelix's little leg, but something caught her eye. She looked up at the window again. There was a face in the window. It was a pale, man's face. It was looming over her reflection. All she could really pay attention to where the eyes; the black, fathomless void of eyes staring down at her from outside the window.
Harriet screamed at the realisation. The figure was not outside the window. He was in the room, standing right behind her.
Harriet was still screaming when she sat bolt upright in her bed. She heard other voices and feet scrambling about the room. She was only vaguely aware that hands were shaking her. Harriet finally started coming to her senses. Her roommates were all on her bed with her, looking at her with terror on their faces.
"Harriet, you're okay," Hermione said. "You're okay, you're safe in bed, it was just a nightmare."
Harriet was panting. She was completely out of breath. She was shaking all over. It had been so real. The man had been standing right behind her. She could still feel Obelix's soft feathers in her hands. She could see those eyes. Those terrible, black eyes.
"Haven't seen anyone have that bad a night panic since the ones I used to have…" Rachel said awkwardly.
"Sorry…" Harriet panted. "I… that was…"
Harriet shivered. It wasn't from her fright; it was a genuine chill. The room was freezing.
"Why's it so cold?" Tori asked, noticing.
"Because the window is open…" Basheera pointed out.
Harriet gasped. She pushed past the other girls and hurried to the window. There was nothing to see, just the freshly snowed grounds. Harriet felt a tiny bit of relief, until she closed the window, and saw the large, man's handprint clearly visible on the inside of the glass.