"Keep up both of you!" Daniel called out behind him. "We've no time to waste."
Harry and John tried to keep pace with Daniel, but they were having more than a little trouble. The man was like a devil possessed.
"This boy is in the Gryffindor Common Room you said?" Daniel looked back at Harry finally slowing a bit.
"Yes sir." Harry nodded. "It's i-"
"Seventh Floor behind the portrait of the Fat Lady." Daniel replied without missing a look. He noticed the incredulous look Harry was giving him. "What? I used to date a girl in Gryffindor back in my time here."
"She told you where our Common Room was sir?" Harry asked.
"No." Daniel admitted. "But I did follow her back one night just to make she was safe. We got more than a few looks most of them from that cunt Lucius Malfoy. He didn't take too kindly to someone of his own house dating a Lion."
"Lord Greengrass!" They all turned to see Madam Bones hurrying towards them with her squad of Aurors following behind her.
"Amelia! You got my message?" Daniel nodded at her.
She nodded. "I'll be honest I was a little skeptical and I'm sorry, but I still am a bit. You think Arthur Weasley's son is the attacker?"
"I'll admit I don't know. Although I do have my suspicions."
"And those are?" She raised an eyebrow.
Daniel looked towards Harry and John. "You'll have to ask my nephew and Mr. Potter here."
Amelia shook her head. "You're trying to make us bring the Weasley boy into custody…on the word of two children?"
"It's not like that ma'am!" Harry said. "We have proof."
"Oh?" Amelia said interestedly. "And what is it?"
"What did you say?" Harry asked getting up from his seat.
The boy suddenly took a step back and regarded Harry with distrust perhaps not knowing that the Gryffindor and Weasley had a falling out. For all Colin knew he was tipping Weasley off by talking about this in front of Harry.
"It's okay Colin." Duffy said. "Harry is trustworthy. Tell us what you know."
Colin nodded. "I heard him sir. This morning after breakfast."
"Why am I just now hearing about this Colin?" John asked.
"I couldn't find you sir." Colin gulped. "I looked for you I swear I did!"
"Keep going." Harry interjected.
"I was on my way to the boats when I heard a commotion in one of the hallways off the Great Hall. It was Weasley. At first I thought he was talking to someone but as I got closer, I noticed he was just muttering to himself."
"What did he say Colin?" John asked gruffly.
Colin gulped. "First he kept cursing. "Shit shit shit" He kept saying." At the curse word Colin flinched. He was only eleven after all and must've been raised to not swear.
"And then?" Harry asked.
""Why did I do that?! What was I thinking? Greengrass didn't deserve that! Dammit!" Again, Colin flinched at the curse.
"We need to get my uncle." John said to Harry. "Colin tell no one else of this. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir." Colin nodded frantically.
"Head back to the common room." Colin nodded again and scampered off.
"If he's telling the truth." Harry said slowly. "That means Ron-"
"Come on." John interrupted pushing off the dock and the boat began its trek towards the shore.
"Oi!" Daphne called out to them running over to the edge. "Where are you two going?"
"We'll tell you later." John called back. "We can't talk right now."
"Head back to the school!" Harry shouted as their friends began to gather with his girlfriend. "We'll find you guys there."
"And then we found my Uncle." John finished as they finally arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room.
"We have enough evidence to bring the Weasley boy in." Amelia said. "This first year will have to offer his memories. If it checks out we'll have enough to order an interrogation by Veritaserium."
"First we need Weasley." John growled.
"Mr. Duffy." Amelia glared at him. "This is to be done legally. I understand you are frustrated by this whole ordeal, but I will not allow you to take your anger out on Mr. Weasley. Am I understood?"
"Yes." John looked away. "Can we get the bloody prick now."
"Watch your language boy!" Daniel warned his nephew and then looked to Harry. "Give the portrait the password Harry."
"I'm sorry." The Fat Lady interceded before Harry could say anything. "But even if he does, I cannot not allow you in."
"We are here on official Ministry business." Amelia said stepping forward her squad backing her up. "You must allow us inside."
"I must not do anything." The Fat Lady retorted. "Under the laws of this school only the Headmaster may allow outsiders passage into the Common Room. No exceptions."
"Damn bint." Amelia muttered under her breath and then turned towards Daniel. "Dumbledore will never allow us inside and I've no idea where to find Minerva. We need to find a way inside now."
"I can do it ma'am." Harry stepped forward. "I can get Weasley to come out and then you can arrest him."
"Too dangerous, Potter." Amelia shook her head. "If the boy feels cornered, he might attack."
"If he does, I'll handle him." Harry said simply. "I won't hurt him."
"What other choice do we have Amelia?" Daniel said.
She didn't say anything for the longest time mulling it over in her head. "Fine." She finally said. "Try to make him come quietly. If he doesn't, stun him. Do not harm him."
Harry nodded and then took a step towards the Fat Lady but was stopped by John putting a hand on his shoulder. "When you stun him let the bastard know he and I will have words." John muttered to his friend.
Harry knew what the other boy meant but only nodded. "Fairy Lights." Harry said to the Fat Lady.
"Try not to cause any damage to the Common Room, Potter." She begged but the portrait opened very briefly so he could go inside but shut quickly behind him.
"Harry!" Hermione came running up to him. She had mostly dried from her ordeal in the lake, but she still had a towel wrapped around her. "What's going on? Where's John?"
"Where's Ron, Hermione." Harry ignored her question.
"Why? What do you want with him?" Hermione said confused.
"I need to speak to him." Harry replied simply looking around the Common Room.
"What do you want Potter?" Harry turned towards the area by the fire and there he was. He looked worse for wear. Like he hadn't slept in days. With the situation being what it was maybe he hadn't.
"We need to talk Weasley." Harry growled.
"Why would I want to talk to you." Weasley spat but shifted uncomfortably.
"I know it was you." Harry's eyes became nothing more than slits as he closed most of the distance between the two. "You bloody little shit."
"I-I've no idea what you're talking about." Ron made to move past Harry, but his former friend stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder. "Get your fucking hands off me."
"How could you Weasley?" Harry growled at Ron. "She never did anything to you, and you beat her within an inch of her life."
"Step off Potter." Ron pushed him back, but Harry closed the distance again. "I- I didn't mean to-"
"To what?!" Harry snapped. A crowd was beginning to grow around them including Hermione, Neville, and the Weasley siblings. "To break her ribs? To shatter half the bones in her face? To leave her in a pool of fucking blood in some corridor?!"
"What are you talking about Harry?" Hermione asked looking back and forth between Ron and Harry.
"Weasley is the one who attacked Astoria Greengrass." Harry responded to the gasps of the crowd.
"Tell us this isn't true, Ron." Fred asked stepping forward. "Tell us Harry is mistaken or he has the wrong person."
"I-I-I-" Ron sputtered.
"You're a disgrace of a human being." Harry said shoving Ron towards the fireplace. "Harming a twelve-year-old like that?"
"FUCK OFF POTTER!" Weasley roared. "ALL OF THIS WAS YOUR FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE! YOU AND YOUR FUCKING SNAKES!"
"WE SHOULD'VE GOT YOUR WHORE AT THE SAME TIME!" With that he went for his wand. Around them half the crowd whipped out their own wands as if to train them on Weasley but before they could Harry struck.
He reared his fist back and struck Weasley in the face breaking his nose. "YOU WILL NOT TOUCH DAPHNE!" Ron fell to the ground, but Harry wasn't done. "YOU HEAR ME?!" He followed his former best friend and followed his first strike up with another one this time in the eye. That old familiar darkness was back and this time he wouldn't hold it back. He finally realized something. This was like a power. Power to do what he normally wouldn't. He wouldn't settle for just harming this wretch of a wizard. It was time to put Weasley down like the dog he was. He rained down strike after strike into the boy's face with Weasley offering no resistance.
"HARRY!" Hermione cried out rushing to his side. "STOP! PLEASE ST-"
He only stopped himself momentarily to push her away and she went flying into the sofa.
Suddenly he felt arms around him that lifted him up. "HARRY THAT'S ENOUGH!" Neville yelled holding Harry firmly against his chest. "HE'S HAD ENOUGH!"
"LET ME GO!" Harry hissed his arms flailing. "I'M NOT DONE WITH HIM!" A couple shots connected with Neville who tried to keep his face away from the shots, but it was difficult.
"STUN HIM!" He ordered Fred and George who had been taken aback by the situation and hadn't moved an inch. "FUCKING DO IT! I CAN'T HOLD HIM MUCH LONGER."
Finally, they came to their senses and Fred whipped out his wand. "STUPEFY!" A red light shot into Harry and his whole world went dark.
He woke in a very familiar place: The Hospital Wing. He knew instantly where he was because of the curtain drawn around his bed and the smell of Madam Pomphrey's perfume wafting through the Wing. How had he ended up here? The last thing he remembered was he had been restrained by Neville and then he lost consciousness.
He tried rubbing his eyes, but his hands snapped back to his side. Looking down he was shocked to see he had been chained.
"I wouldn't do that again." He looked over and sitting by his side in a chair was Madam Bones. "They are enchanted to deliver a strong shock if you continue to resist."
"What happened?" Harry asked himself more than her.
She leaned her head closer to him. "Do you remember what I told you Mr. Potter? Before you entered the Common Room."
"I told you to bring in Weasley nonviolently. And what did you do? You tried to kill him."
"I-I-"Harry sputtered. His head was starting to clear, and the darkness had subsided. He knew Weasley had to be brought in and tried for his crime. But he hadn't been content with that.
"Fortunately for you." Amelia sighed. "Witnesses say that the boy was drawing his wand on you so some might say that you acted in self-defense." Even she didn't sound like she believed it but what action could she possibly take? She knew that even if the boy didn't acknowledge it his legend was too great. No judge wanted to convict Harry Potter of attempted murder. It would be career suicide and she didn't have the authority to try the boy in this matter. Besides…she had orders. "And Miss Granger has told me she will not press charges."
"Hermione!" Harry suddenly became attentive. "Is she okay? I did- I didn't mean to-"
"I understand that you didn't wish to harm Miss Granger and rest assured you did not."
"But let me be perfectly clear." She got closer to him and her voice subsided to a deathly whisper. "If I hear reports that something like this has happened again, I will not hesitate to arrest you. The Minister be damned. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Ma'am." Harry nodded quickly. What had she meant about the Minister?
With a flick of her wand his bindings came undone. "You may go." She said. "Your friends are waiting for you outside the curtain. They have been here for some time."
"How long was I out Ma'am?" Harry said rubbing his wrists.
"Over a day." She replied. "We kept you sedated until we could determine what to do with you."
With a flick of her wrist the curtains came flying open and in came his friends led by Daphne.
"Dap-" He tried a smile before being silenced by the look on her face.
"You're very lucky." She whispered to him so only he could hear. Their friends wisely stood back. "Very lucky indeed that Hermione doesn't hate you. If you had done that to me, I would've cursed you and never wanted anything to do with you ever again. It happens again and that'll be the last time you see me. Clear?"
He nodded and she drew back and shook her head. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He replied and then looked at Hermione. "Hermione, I can't even begin to tell you how sorr-"
He was interrupted by the bone crushing hug that she delivered him. "I forgive you Harry." She said into his shoulder. "I'm more worried about you."
"Sorry we had to stun you mate." Neville said sheepishly.
"Don't be." Harry shook his head. "You did the right thing. I-I was out of control."
"What happened in there Harry?" Blaise asked and his friends eyes rested on him now. They had all heard snippets, but they wanted to hear it from him now.
"I-I couldn't stop myself." Harry responded looking down at his hands. They had begun to bruise. He had hit Weasley so hard that it did damage to himself as well. "I just kept hitting Weasley over and over."
"You were angry." Blaise nodded. "It happens."
"It wasn't just that." Harry looked up at him. "I wanted to make him pay for what he did to Astoria. I wanted to cause him pain. And what's worse…I enjoyed it."
"Harry." John stepped forward. "Bastard deserved it."
"Doesn't matter if he deserved it or not." Harry shook his head. "I was supposed to go in and bring him out so the Aurors could take him into custody. Not…do what I did."
"Where is he now?"
"They checked him into St. Mungo's." Hermione answered. "He's expected to make a full recovery. When he's able the interrogation will begin."
This got Harry's attention. "They're going to charge him?"
"Not yet but they checked Colin's memory. It gave them what they needed for a warrant on Weasley." John answered. "They should be interrogating him in the next day or so."
They heard the door to the hospital wing open and in came Daphne's parents followed by Hannah.
"Harry!" Jane said coming to stand by her nephew. "Are you okay?"
"Yes Ma'am." He nodded.
"Thank you, Harry." Daniel nodded. "For helping us find the bastard. I wish though you wouldn't have gone that far against the boy. I want something left for the courts."
"I'm sorry sir." Harry apologized not being able to meet the man's eye.
"We got him that's all that matters." Daniel smiled patting Harry on the shoulder. "And we should be able to question him later today." Harry nodded but otherwise didn't respond.
"I thought he wouldn't be okay to go for another couple days?" Tracey asked.
Daniel shook his head. "He's able enough now where the Aurors will question him. The Veritaserium shouldn't damage his mind."
"They'll need a statement from you as well Harry." Jane added.
"Why from me?" Harry asked confused.
"You're one of the people who made Madam Bones aware of the boy involvement." Daniel said. "So, John will have to give one as well."
John nodded as did Harry. "I don't know about you, but I must say I'm famished." Hannah said breaking her silence. "I say we head down to the Three Broomsticks for some lunch."
"Why?" Daniel asked confused. "We coul- oh. Yes of course the Three Broomsticks."
"Children would you like to join us?" He asked his daughters friends. They all agreed including Harry which Hannah let out a breath she hadn't been holding.
"Let's get going, then shall we?"
"I could eat a damn horse." John commented as they made their way out of the Hospital.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "We jus-"
"Hey!" As a group they turned and instantly went on their guard. Walking towards them were the Weasley twins. Just the Weasley twins though. Ginny wasn't there thank Merlin.
"Harry." One of them nodded at him. "Could we have a word?"
"I don't know if that's the best idea boys." Daniel said warningly. "It wouldn't do for him to be seen with your family right now."
"I'll meet you guys down at the Three Broomsticks." Harry said instead.
"Are you sure?" Daniel asked. "You could always ta-"
"Daniel." Jane said tugging on her husband's shoulder. "Let's go."
After a moment's hesitation Daniel nodded. "Just don't be too long Harry."
The rest of them walked off but Daphne remained behind. "I'll save you a seat." She said squeezing his shoulder and leaving with the rest of them.
"Fred. George." Harry nodded at both of them.
"Harry." One of them sighed. "You know why we're here."
"I do." Harry nodded. "And I understand."
"You do?" Twin one asked confused.
"Yes." Harry nodded again. "I won't trouble your family anymore." With that Harry started to walk away.
"OI!" They yelled after him and he turned. "That's not what we were going to say moron." They rolled their eyes as a pair.
"Then what did you guys have to say?" Harry asked defensively. He slowly inched for his wand. It wasn't likely they would attack him, but he couldn't be too careful.
"Come on." Fred raised an eyebrow. "You think we're that stupid that we would take on the Great Harry Potter? Even with a two on one advantage it wouldn't be a fair fight for us."
Harry nodded but was still on edge.
"We came to let you know that Ron deserves to rot in a cell for what he did."
"Huh?"
"We heard him admit to it clear as day. Attacking a defenseless girl? He's a right evil little prick."
"Rest of our family might think differently for a while but after they see all the evidence they'll come around."
To say Harry was shocked was an understatement. Here they were. Ron's actual brothers saying they were on his side against their own kin. "Thank you, guys. I'm glad you believe me."
"We still think you went too far mate."
"I've been hearing that a lot lately." Harry sighed.
"From your friends? Only one who knows you better than us is Hermione. That wasn't you Harry. It was like some… demon took control. When I had to stun you (sorry about that by the way) I saw your eyes. They weren't your own."
"We think you need to talk to Dumbledore, Harry. He'd know what to do."
Harry sighed. After all this these two still believed that Albus Dumbledore could do no wrong. "I trust that man as far as I can throw him."
"Then have someone else there with you. Lord Greengrass even. Dumbledore knows not to mess around with his family."
"You're our brother Harry. You always were. Even when Ron was acting like a cunt. We just want what's best for you."
Before Harry could react the Twins took him into a hug which after a second, he returned it. "Thanks boys." He said to both of them after he drew away. "Means a lot."
"We'll help where we can with smoothing things over with the rest of the family. Mum will probably take it the hardest. She won't believe that one of her own children attacked a girl. We'll get her to come around though."
"I really would like to see speak with both your parents and give my side of the story." Harry implored.
The twins looked at each other and shrugged. "We don't think that's the best idea but if you want to you can talk to them when they get here."
"They're coming to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
They both nodded. "The Ministry summoned them as soon as Ron was taken into custody. They should be here by tonight."
Draco was pacing up and down the vacant classroom that he and the Weasel would always meet in. The rumors had spread around Hogwarts. Weasley had been taken into custody for the attack on Astoria Greengrass.
There was no way that he could implicate Draco…was there? His books had always told him that a memory charm was almost impossible to reverse through sheer will but the memories could be triggered. He had meant for Weasley to take the fall but what if someone said something particular and the rest of those memories came flooding back?! He should've just killed the bastard and thrown his body in the Black Lake. Killed him with the Weasel's own wand too so it wouldn't have been traced back to him.
And now the shit was in the custody of the Aurors. He needed to take care of him. Permanently this time.
He needed to plan this out. He couldn't just go rushing into the Hospital Wing or wherever he was being held wands blazing. He wasn't a damn Gryffindor. He was Draco Malfoy the Pride of Slytherin. He would take this one step at a time. Azkaban wasn't fit for someone like him.
"Another round Rosmerta!" Daniel called over.
"Another Firewhiskey Daniel? You should really take it easy." Rosmerta raised an eyebrow.
"My last one I promise." He said as she had already begun to pour the whiskey regardless. "I have business to attend to later anyway. Need to keep a level head."
"What sort of business is that?" She asked interestedly.
"Perhaps you've had enough." Jane said swiping the whiskey out of her husbands grasp and downing it. Daniel looked like he wanted to say something but Jane raised an eyebrow, so he settled for sipping back on his water that had been provided.
"Just like old times." Hannah snorted and downed a shot of Firewhiskey. "What?" She asked when her son gave her a look.
"I didn't say anything!" John defended himself. "I just thought you hated Firewhiskey."
"What gave you that impression?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Whenever I've seen you, you've always been drinking some sort of wine. Just didn't think you liked whiskey is all."
She rolled her eyes and downed another shot. "Where do you think you get it from?" She asked.
"It's illegal for me to have whiskey though." He suddenly looked uncomfortable. Beside him Hermione was struggling to hold in her laughter.
"Yeah…because your mum never drank underage." She winked and then looked further down their table. "Not drinking Harry?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine with water." He said taking a sip.
"That's good." She said taking a sip of hers. "I think there's someone that'd like to speak with you."
Harry nodded. "Is he in the same room?" Hannah nodded and Harry got up from the table. "I'll be back in a bit." He said to Daphne who after a moment of comprehension nodded. She knew who Harry needed to speak with.
He started to make his way towards the stairs leading up to the rooms when somebody grabbed his attention. Forced it actually.
"Harry." Ginny said as she stood in front of the stairs.
"Ginny." He acknowledged her trying to move past her, but she wouldn't budge.
"We need to talk." She insisted.
He sighed. "About?"
"You need to help me clear Ron of all these things that everybody is leveling at him." She said folding her arms.
"What." He blinked. She wasn't serious, was she? She had been in the Common Room when he had confronted Ron. He had seen her there.
She rolled her eyes. "These allegations are ridiculous Harry. It's clear that the Greengrass bitch lied to you so you would turn against your best friend."
"That bitch is named Daphne." He hissed taking a step towards her. "She is a person that I love very much, and you won't speak about her that way."
"Oh, come on Harry." She rolled her eyes again. "You've kno-"
"And just so you know." He pressed on not letting her spew her nonsense. "Your cunt brother and I haven't been friends since the beginning of the year. Looking back, I don't think he was my friend at all." He began to move past her but was stopped when she slapped him across the face.
"How dare you!" She roared drawing the attention of everyone in the bar. "Ron has been there for you since the start of first year. He took you in! YOU! Some pathetic little orphan boy crying about how his relatives abused him! You shou-"Whatever she was going to say next was stopped by the fist that shot into her face. But it wasn't from him.
"IF YOU EVER! TALK TO HARRY LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Daphne seethed, "I'LL BREAK YOUR FUCKING TEETH IN YOU BITCH!"
Ginny stumbled back and held her cheek where already a bruise was starting to form. "Who do y-"
"Leave." Daphne growled. "While I still let you."
Ginny glared at the other girl but otherwise left. "You'll be sorry for that." Ginny hissed at her before taking her leave.
"You okay?" Daphne asked turning to her boyfriend.
"Don't mind me. Are you okay?" Harry asked grabbing her hand and inspected it for bruises.
Daphne tore it away and rolled her eyes. "I'm fine you berk."
"Just thought I'd ask." He shrugged. "You didn't have to do that."
"You think I'm really going to let that bloody bint mess around with my man?" She said wrapping her arms around him. "Fat chance of that."
"I can take care of myself." He said but reciprocated her gesture. "But thank you."
She rolled her eyes again. "I know. Still I know you'd never hit a woman and that bitch needed to be hit."
He shook his head. "I don't know how she can be so deluded. She heard her brother admit to it and she still swears that he didn't do it."
Daphne shook her head. "Some people can't be reasoned with Harry."
"Are you okay?" She asked seeing him get a look on his face.
"It's just something that Weasley said." Harry said thoughtfully. "When I confronted him in the Common Room."
"What was it?" Daphne asked.
"Come on." He said tugging at her hand and ushering her up the stairs. "I only want to explain this once."
"Are you sure about this Harry?" Sirius asked. He had been in the middle of changing when his nephew had barged into the room. And he hadn't been able to find his shirt now, so he was forced to talk to Harry and his girlfriends niece naked from the waist up.
Harry nodded. "One hundred percent. Weasley didn't act alone."
"How do you know?" Daphne asked.
"When I confronted Weasley in the Common Room he told me that "We should've gotten your…" well he was talking about Daphne, but he said they should've gotten you both at the same time."
"Bloody hell." Sirius muttered. "Any guesses as to who it is?"
Harry shook his head. "No but I have an idea to flush him out." He turned to Daphne. "We need to find your father. We have to go to Dumbledore."
Draco looked around the Great Hall in suspicion. Every second that he sat idle he expected the Aurors to show up and put him in chains. He should've taken the serum as soon as Weasley was taken into custody. He would've taken it that night he had met Lord Duffy in the bar but he had wanted to savor those memories a bit while longer. He needed to get back to the Common Room and-
"Good evening students!" Dumbledore announced to those gathered. "Before you all return to your Common Rooms to enjoy a night of rest, we have an announcement to make. From the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones." With that he stepped aside to let Madam Bones take the stand. Where Dumbledore usually had some sort of "grandfatherly" smile on his wizened face it was now unreadable. Almost as if he had something to say but was unable.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Madam Bones said before clearing her throat. "Students of Hogwarts. I am here to address you today on a matter of urgent business."
"By now most of you already know of the horrific attack carried out on one of your fellow students. The name of the victim will remain anonymous." It didn't matter. News travelled fast around Hogwarts. Plus, everybody in second year had noticed Astoria hadn't been coming to any classes recently. They had put two and two together and it had spread like wildfire around school. "I am pleased to announce that we have made a breakthrough in the case. Early yesterday, acting upon a lead from a source we apprehended one of those we believe to have been a participant in the assault." Around the hall gasps were uttered from pretty much everyone outside the Gryffindor table. Draco sunk back into his seat.
"After a round of questioning we believe we have gotten a lead in the case. The suspect has been most helpful. He even claims to have had a partner."
Draco blanched. There was no way that Weasley could've gotten through that charm…was there?
"We hope to find out more soon. It is only a matter of time before this case draws to a close." Madam Bones finished. "Currently the suspect is being kept under guard in the Hospital Wing. We will begin a new round of questioning tomorrow. We hope it sheds a whole new light on this." She looked around the Great Hall her gaze not resting on anybody in particular before stepping down.
"Thank you, Madam Bones." Dumbledore spoke up taking his place back the podium. "I ask that none of you be alarmed. I am sure this is all a misunderstanding. I doubt any of our students would ever commit such a crime." Everyone at the table of Lions had to resist the urge to snort. Many of them had heard Weasley confess to the crime and those who hadn't had been informed by them. "I now release you all to your beds."
Draco couldn't get up fast enough. Shit shit shit shit shit! What the fuck had he been thinking?! Forget wiping the bastard's memory he should've just killed the prick.
Forget the potion. After dinner he'd be making a visit to the Hospital Wing.
To do what should've been done in the first place.
"Think it'll work?" John asked Harry as the Great Hall's inhabitants left as a crowd.
"Only time will tell." Was all Harry said as his eyes scanned the student body.
"Idiot." Barty shook his head once he was back in his quarters. The Weasley boy had gone and got himself captured and now the bloody Malfoy was going to fall right into Bones' trap which it clearly was. Why advertise where the suspect was if you didn't want people to go looking for him? He would let Malfoy find that out for himself. No need to draw any attention to himself.
It was unfortunate that Joseph might go down for this as well. The man was one of the few he considered a friend and an equal. He felt obligated to make the man aware of the situation. He would pay a visit to the Hogs Head.
Draco creeped along the dark hallway towards the Hospital Wing. After he knew for a fact that his dormmates had drifted off to sleep he had set off into the night. He doubted he would encounter much resistance. Tomorrow was a whole new school day. The students needed their sleep for a new week of being taught nothing. Honestly the only reason he had stuck around school this long was because it was to be expected of him. Lucius Malfoy's only son and heir a Hogwarts dropout? How would that look? But every year the classes became more and more ridiculous. Just last year Defense Against the Dark Arts was taught by a werewolf! The quality of this damn school had been going downhill every year since he had first walked through the doors. Maybe it was time for him to leave.
Suddenly he heard approaching footsteps and voices and he flattened himself against the wall as they passed. "We need to be on high alert tonight." An unfamiliar voice said as two figures walked past. Aurors.
"Why? Are they expecting somebody to go after the Weasley boy?" A different voice responded.
"Most likely not. But still I won't feel comfortable until the boy is out of our hair and in Azkaban."
"Shouldn't he get a trial first? We don't know that he's guilty."
"The multiple witnesses in his Common Room who heard him admit to it would disagree."
"Still Azkaban seems a bit harsh for someone as young as him."
"If you can't do the time don't do the bloody crime."
The two voices faded away as they walked off and Draco let out a breath that he hadn't realized that he had been holding. Weasley was a lost cause. It seemed they had him dead to rights, so the idiot had nothing to lose. He might even think he would get a bit of leniency if he turned Draco in as well. There was a way of handling that though.
Poking his head around the corner he scanned the area. There was only one person outside the Hospital Wing. It was the girl that Weasley had run into when the Aurors had first been stationed at Hogwarts. Draco smirked. She would be easy to deal with.
"Ma'am!" Draco called out as he came around the corner. Instantly the girl was on guard.
"Stop right there!" She snapped leveling her wand at him. "Don't come any closer."
He put his hands up in mock fright. "Please don't! I don't mean any harm. I just came to report a crime."
"What crime is that?" She asked slowly her wand not leaving him.
"There's been an assault down the hall! A girl is brutally injured I think she may have even been…" He left it at that throwing in a shiver for good measure.
Instantly she was alert. "Is she okay?" Her wand slowly fell. "What are you even out here? It's way past curfew."
"I was coming back from Hogsmeade," He lied, "Coming back from a trip with my father. I was headed towards my Common Room when I heard groaning. I found her there."
"Go find the other members of my squad," Tonks said before moving towards the hallway where the boy had motioned towards, "They should be patrolling the eastern corridor."
She started moving off towards the hallway when she heard him mutter something. "Idiot."
"What di-"Whatever she had to say next was lost when she felt something impact her in the back and her whole world went dark.
"They really don't have a lot of requirements to be an Auror these days, do they?" He rolled his eyes. It had been too easy.
He pushed open the doors to the Hospital Wing and had his wand held out in front of him as he scanned the room. Nobody else here. Where were they? There couldn't have been just three of them. Shouldn't the rest of them be on guard here?
He couldn't worry about that right now. He needed to do what he came here to do.
He looked around the Wing until he saw it. It was the only drawn curtain out of every bed. His wand in front of him he made his way over to the curtain.
He grabbed a handful of the curtain and wrenched it back to see…
Nothing. That couldn't right. He looked around the Wing and there was nothing else here. No indicator that Weasley was being held here.
"Out a bit late aren't we boy?" He whirled around to see a grizzled old wizard with his wand in his hand.
"I was- I was just-"Draco sputtered.
"Seems like you came here expecting to see the Weasley boy. Or would accomplice be the right word?" The man raised an eyebrow.
"You can't prove anything!" Draco barked.
"My stunned friend out there would prove differently," Captain Talbot sighed, "Just make this easy boy. Come quietly."
"AVA-"
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Before Draco could even finish the horrid curse, his wand shot out of his hand and was plucked out of the air by the Captain.
"Not smart boy," The man shook his head, "STUPEFY!"
Draco crumpled to the ground and the last words he heard were, "Not smart at all."
A/N: Bit of a short chapter. Originally it was supposed to continue and go into the interrogation of Weasley but personally I felt this was the best place to stop. We'll not only go more into that next chapter but also find out how Weasel was able to beat the Memory Charm in the first place.
-RJS