Chapter 17: Suspension and Apprehension

The final match of the Quidditch season arrived to much speculation and excitement. Neville, Ron, and Hermione wished Harry good luck as they head for the front door. Neville paused suddenly as a voice hissed, "Kill…rip…tear…"

"Neville? What's wrong?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"That voice, I just heard it! Didn't you guys?"

As Ron shook his head, Hermione clapped a hand to her forehead. "I just realized something! I have to go look something up in the library!"

"Right before the match, Hermione? Are you mental?" Ron asked, incredulous.

"I'll be back in time for the match, go on!" Hermione hurried off in the direction of the library.

Ron shook his head. "Harry, we need to get you to the match, come on."

The three of them headed out to the pitch and Ron and Neville took their seats in the bleachers. Before the match started, however, Professor McGonagall hurried out onto the pitch. "This match is canceled. Everyone head to their common rooms, where your Head of House will give more information."

Ron and Neville hurried down to the pitch as she turned to Harry. "Come with me, Potter. You two as well." She said, gravely.

"What happened, Professor?" Ron asked, anxiously, as she led them to the hospital wing.

"There's been another double attack. The victim may come as a shock to you." Professor McGonagall led them into the hospital wing.

Lying stiff as a board on the two beds at the end of the wing were Hermione and a curly-haired girl. "No…Hermione…" Harry moaned, horrified by the sight.

"They were found next to this, do you know why that would be?" Professor McGonagall held up a compact mirror. Harry, Ron, and Neville shook their heads. "I have to go. I have to address the Gryffindor students. I will escort you back to the common room."

Harry, Ron, and Neville followed Professor McGonagall back to the common room in silence, where she announced the new rules set forth, such as a curfew and escorts between classes.

"What are we going to do?" Ron asked the other two, quietly.

"I think we need to get out my dad's Invisibility Cloak again." Harry muttered, quietly.

Ten minutes after the rest of the Gryffindors had gone to bed, Harry had returned with his Invisibility Cloak. They left the common room and threw the Cloak over all three of them, heading to the front doors. They snuck down to Hagrid's hut and knocked.

At once a tense voice growled, "Who's there?"

"It's us, Hagrid, we're under the Cloak!" Harry answered.

Hagrid opened the door and he had a crossbow in hand. "Come in, hurry, and shut the door."

"What are you needing that crossbow for?" Harry asked, as they entered the hut and shut the door behind them.

"Was expecting-never mind, it's nothin'." Hagrid shrugged, but his hands shook as he made tea.

"I suppose you heard about Hermione?" Neville asked, removing the Cloak.

"Yeah, I heard, all righ'." Hagrid said, darkly.

Harry took a mug of tea from Hagrid just as there was a door knock. The sound startled Hagrid so much he dropped the mug he was holding, causing it to shatter on the wood floor. "Quick, hide under the Cloak!" Hagrid hissed.

Ron, Harry, and Neville disappeared under the Cloak and Hagrid went to the door to answer it. Dumbledore was at the door, followed by a man Harry, Ron, and Neville had only seen pictures of. "What is the Minister of Magic doing here?" Neville hissed.

"Shh!" Harry hissed back. "They'll hear us!"

"Hagrid, sorry to bother you this late. The Minister insisted on coming down to see you." Dumbledore answered, gravely.

"Sad business brings me here, Hagrid. Very sad business indeed. Four attacks on Muggle-borns and we're no closer to catching the culprit. The Ministry has to look like it's doing something, and with your record-" Fudge answered, promptly.

"I want it on the record that I fully stand by Hagrid." Dumbledore frowned down at Fudge.

"If he is proven innocent, he will be set free with a full apology. But we must take precautionary actions to prevent further attacks. We must take him in." Fudge answered, looking uncomfortable.

"Take me in? Take me in where?" Hagrid demanded, at once.

"Just for a while. Like I said you'll get our fully apology if it is determined-"

"I'm not going to Azkaban!" Hagrid bellowed, turning white.

In apparent response to Hagrid's outburst, there was a knock on the door. Dumbledore answered it and Harry gasped. Ron clapped a hand over his mouth.

Lucius Malfoy strode through the doorway, giving a disdainful glance around the hut. Fang growled at him, hackles raised. "Ah, Minister, good to see you here already. "Good. Very good."

"Get outta my house!" Hagrid growled.

"I'd rather be anywhere but this…house, you say?" Mr. Malfoy sneered at the last words. "I came here because I was informed that the headmaster was here."

"What did you want with me?" Dumbledore asked, with a hint of impatience.

"Terrible things, Dumbledore, that under your watch, there have been four Muggle-born attacks. The governors have been discussing and feel that it's time for you to retire. I have"-he produced a official document from within his robes and handed it to Dumbledore-"an Order of Suspension. All twelve signatures by the governors are on there. We should see if the next headmaster has a-ah-better time stopping these attacks. After all, we all want these attacks to stop."

"We don't want Dumbledore suspended, no, no that's the last thing we want." Fudge blustered.

"The decision is with the governors, Fudge." Mr. Malfoy continued. "Since Dumbledore has not been able to stop the attacks, we feel there is a need of change."

"If Dumbledore can't stop them, who can?" Fudge blustered.

"It is done, all twelve governors voted-"

"How many did you coerce and blackmail to get those signatures?" Hagrid demanded, leaping to his feet and pointing a finger at him.

"I wouldn't shout at the Azkaban guards like that, Hagrid, that temper might get you in trouble." Mr. Malfoy answered, silkily.

"If you take Dumbledore there'll be killins' next!" Hagrid growled. "There's not going to be anything stoppin' the attacks!"

"Enough, Hagrid!" Dumbledore said, sharply. He looked at Mr. Malfoy. "If the governors wish me gone, I shall leave."

He ignored the immediate reaction from Hagrid and Fudge and continued. "If anyone cares to know, I will never be truly gone as long as there is one person loyal to me. They can find help if they know where to look."

Dumbledore went to the door and stepped out, followed by Mr. Malfoy. Fudge paused at the door, waiting on Hagrid. "If anyone wants to look fer things, you know, all they gotta do is follow the spiders." Hagrid said, loudly, before following Fudge as well.

As the door shut behind them, Harry whipped off the Invisibility Cloak. "This is bad, really bad. With Dumbledore and Hagrid gone, we've got no chance."

Fang howled and scratched at the door.