Harry Does Different CCCIII
Dangerous Detention
"Sorry lot this, Hagrid." The grimy caretaker handed his charges over with a smirk "Into the forest you'll be going."
Draco looked into the distance "We can't go in THERE! There's werewolves." AAAAAAAARRRRROOOOOOO
"More'n werewolves you cn believe tha boy." Filch was positively gleeful with his announcement. Giving an especially nasty look at the blonde boy.
Hermione nodded compliantly and fell in beside the bearded wonder. Ron only hesitated briefly before joining in. Despite his fear and, in truth, because he was pushed by the caretaker Draco stepped in line with the Gryffindors.
"I'm not going." Declared Harry firmly.
Filch nudged him "Move it boy!"
"Push me again and I'll hex you!" countered Harry, pulling his wand.
Hagrid spun around and scolded "Now you heard what Fesser McGonagall ordered Harry Potter. You move it! Nuttin dangerous!"
"Really?" argued the boy "Says you with the crossbow? I ain't impressed. Think I'll do a sensible detention like write lines or clean cauldrons."
And while Harry marched back to the castle, Hagrid in his infinite wisdom assigned tasks "We're lookin fer wat's killin the unicorns. Ron and me'll head toward the bogs. Ermione, you'll take Draco torwards Black Lake. Ere's me second lamp ter light yer way and off ya go."
"I get Fang!" declared Draco, the while glaring at Hermione
Hagrid gave his pet a grunt and agreed "Fine, just so's ya know, e's a bloody coward." And the parties went their separate ways.
Abcij
Draco hefted the lamp as high as he could complaining "Honestly! This is servant work!"
"One would think you're scared Malfoy." Hermione taunted lightly, though not quite able to repress the tremor in her own voice as trees seemed to close in around them.
Giving a baleful preteen glare, the Slytherin shot back "No one asked you! Filthy little Mudblood!"
"Why you foul mouth, nasty, wicked little cockroach!" Hermione advanced on him, wand out.
Draco was backpedaling, Fang was running ahead of the quarreling humans, but suddenly the overgrown mutt whined and dug his paws into the mud. There was a gruesome sight against a large rock was a unicorn emitting its last death scream as something mostly human ripped its throat open.
Silvery blood dripping from its fangs, the creature turned to hiss malevolently at the children. In the dark and half-cloaked it was barely recognizable as human. Terrifying. Fully trained adult wizards would not be called cowardly for fleeing this truly evil apparition. It charged, seizing the boy by the throat. Hermione, quite bravely, but futilely, punched at its legs.
An arrow, meant for the thing's head, passed straight through the Slytherin boy. And the Gryffindor girl had a vague impression of a man-horse before losing consciousness.
Abcij
The scene had brought most of those Gryffindors still awake down to the Common Room. A good castigation was always an exception to curfew. And this? Even the Sevenths were whispering that they hadn't seen anything like it. The younger students felt truly privileged to be in on the moment.
"…and you, Potter, have earned a punishment I will have to think further on." Professor McGonagall was concluding her speech "Have you anything to say by way of mitigation? You do understand pupils DO NOT have the right to refuse assigned detentions?"
Argus Filch stood at the door looking like he wanted to find some old-style thumb-screws.
Harry had stood meekly while the Head of House lectured but her pause and apparent questions seemed an opportunity answered "Well, it's like this ma'am, Professor Dumbledore DID call it the FORBIDDEN Forest. So, I wasn't REALLY disobeying you so much as I was obeying him. And even just before we they started out, I mean HONESTLY Hagrid had a crossbow! Malfoy was sure he heard a werewolf."
"That is neither here nor there Mr. Potter- -" she was gearing up another full-blown lecture. By now, not a single Gryffindor was in bed. And they were sure they were witnessing the end of Harry Potter.
Suddenly the door burst open, leveling the caretaker and Ron tumbled in hardly noticing. In fact he was barely aware that he'd interrupted his Head of House in the very act of a dressing down. He grabbed her cloak while catching his breath "Fess…orr…gotta goto 'spitil NOW!"
She gave him a scathing look and commanded "You will EXPLAIN why you are not in detention Mr. Weasley."
"We were …ttack" Ron was still panting "Malfoy dead…think…Mione hurt…centaur in the hospital wing."
Harry was all set to roar out of the lions' den even if it meant going through his Head.
Her wand was out in the blink of an eye "Petrificus totalis!" leaving Harry to topple like a fallen tree "I expect you senior students to maintain order. Concern for a Housemate is admirable but misplaced when one is already in hospital. Anyone following me will be out of bounds. I trust I am clear?"
Abcij
Dumbledore really didn't want this meeting to happen, but in the end his political influence couldn't prevent it. The occasion was made worse when Lucius Malfoy insisted both the Wizengamot and Hogwarts Board of Governors sit in joint session and the affair be open to the public. And he took the lead in prosecuting the matter "On behalf of myself and Narcissa, we are deeply relieved Draco received the wonderful care of Madam Pomfrey and is well on the way to recovery. He should return to school soon. I do apologize for his unavailability, but I would not dare go against healer advice. Miss Granger's testimony, I think, is most applicable here."
"You'll be fine, sweetie." Ian Granger squeezed his daughter's shoulder.
Hermione flashed an uneasy look at the man who so resembled her classmate and whispered "Draco's totally bigoted and you only learn something like that at home. I can just tell about him."
"You are new to magic, is that not correct, Miss Granger?" asked Mr. Malfoy with all surface politeness. There was a ripple of hostility from the deeply Pureblood faction.
She focused on her parents and replied "True."
"Your parents, then? What do they do?" he asked.
Hermione answered "They are dentists."
"Can you define that, briefly?" asked Lucius, a false politeness in his tone "Not all of us have an understanding of Muggle society."
The girl was able to bury her nervousness in fact "I guess the easiest way would be that they're Healers, like Madam Pomfrey. Except they specialize in the care of the teeth and mouth generally."
"Must have come as quite a surprise when you were told you were a witch?" this question a light one.
She smiled "It explained so many strange occurrences. The time I didn't blow out all my candles when I was five and they suddenly went out. The time I wanted to read after Mum said lights out and, well, my room was lit without the bulb being on."
"And a hundred others, I'm sure." Mr. Malfoy wasn't quite impatient "The night of your detention, please?"
Hermione swallowed "Professor McGonagall ordered that we were to go with Mr. Filch and then to Mr. Hagrid's hut, who would conduct our detention."
"Without detailing reasons, my dear" the man was now smiling slightly "I would assume you have served a few detentions in the past. My own record isn't spotless, believe me. What are your typical punishments? And please feel free to think of your Muggle life too?"
She unconsciously tapped her teeth then answered "Cleaning the blackboards, or scrubbing floors or cauldrons."
"The point being to punish the offender" now he shifted to the adult "and to teach the child not to repeat the improper behavior." He then became friendly "But tell us, Miss Granger, as unpleasant as any of those activities may have been, did you ever feel your life was threatened?"
Hermione was somehow made uncomfortable by that, she swallowed and answered "No sir."
"What happened to you that night Miss Granger?" he asked.
After covering the preliminaries she concluded "…that creature, whatever it was, was sure going to kill us. The centaur, Frienze, I learned his name is managed to drive it off. But one of his hooves crushed my knee. I had to be treated with skelegrow."
"Draco told me of your bravery in trying to help him." At this Lucius approached and touched her shoulder "Probably not wise, young lady, but stereotypically Gryffindor. I would be remiss in my duty as Head of the Noble House of Malfoy if I did not acknowledge that action and thank you. Publicly."
Hermione gave a nod, offered a timid "You're welcome." And started to leave. Susan Bones ran down from the Bones seat in the Wizengamot and whispered rapidly in her ear. After an exchange between the girls, she spoke carefully "I recognize this debt of honor as stated before this body. However, I do not feel sufficiently educated in custom to properly handle this. Lord Malfoy, may I seek a future favor?"
Lucius' face turned to stone. How dare the Bones chit involve herself? Well, the phrasing lacked polish, nevertheless "A wise thought, especially for one so young." He hated praising the Mudblood, smiling for the audience "I await your pleasure."
"What was that all about?" Michelle Granger demanded of the redhaired girl who accompanied her daughter back to her seat.
Susan only had a moment while Lucius was refreshing himself before having to return to her place she gave a quick instruction "My Aunt Amelia, come to her office after this wraps up. It's the nearest place we can talk without being overheard. Magical Law Enforcement."
"Thank you." Said Hermione with a brief nod as things resumed.
Mr. Malfoy was ready "Members of the Wizengamot and of the Hogwarts Board, the other witness to the night in question…And someone with a different perspective…Mr. Harry Potter. Now, I am sure you've heard Miss Granger's description of the events, but YOU were not there were you?"
"No sir." Acknowledged Harry.
The man smiled "And I would not want you to testify to what you yourself did not see. What I believe this inquiry should be interested in is what you did. Now, just like your classmates, you were caught out of bounds after hours true?"
"True." the boy mumbled.
Lucius waved dismissively "As I told Miss Granger, no one in this room can claim a completely spotless record. And because of that, you were assigned a detention?"
"Yes." Harry could only agree.
Lucius swept about dramatically "And yet YOU a mere First Year chose to defy the instructions of those placed in authority over you. Witches and wizards older and wiser by far."
"That was not my reasoning at the time." Said Harry, looking around at people who didn't seem approving "Just the opposite actually. Professor Dumbledore even told us at our Opening Feast it is called The Forbidden Forest for a reason."
There was a ripple of unease that swept the room, but Lucius dispelled it with a chuckle complimenting "Remarkable presence of mind for one so young. And I quite agree! Surely a hundred lines of I shall not be out after curfew is a more fitting punishment than sending practically untrained children into a life or death situation."
Cheering filled the Great Hall turned-courtroom.
"And who do we have to blame for this outrage?" demanded Lord Malfoy, voice turning brittle "Albus almighty Dumbledore. Who, and forgive me if my son may not have got the quote perfect: promised a violent death if anyone entered the third floor corridor, of a school full of OUR future."
At this, Rubeus Hagrid thrust himself to his full height and thumped on a wall, taking out a bit of stone and thundered "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IS A GREAT MAN!"
"Yeeeeeeessssss, our headmaster's yes man." Malfoy drawled out, pretending to notice him for the first time.
To this, Harry protested "Hey! Hagrid's my friend!"
"You'll forgive me if I'm less than impressed, Mr. Potter." Sneered the previously friendly questioner "The bearded oaf put an arrow through my son."
To this the young wizard deflated "Wasn't for Hagrid and Frienze that thing woulda killed both Draco and Hermione."
"For which I commend Madam Pomfrey." He made a nod to the mediwitch "No one here is questioning your performance. Your work in saving my son was exemplary. I do not think the oaf who shot him is praiseworthy for getting him help. But the problem with decision making at this institution stems from the top."
Augusta Longbottom, generally an opponent of his in the Wizengamot, demanded "What do you propose as a remedy, Earl Malfoy?"
"Two-fold, Dowager Regent Longbottom" Lucius used his silkiest tones "And the reason I sought this joint session. I would propose the Hogwarts Board of Governors dismiss Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster. Second, though it would be non-binding, the Wizengamot consider a resolution expressing support of the action."
Professor McGonagall stood in outraged offense "You dare! I shall NOT accept the position after this shameful action!"
"In fact, Madam" he looked at her with disdain "you were the next topic of discussion. To the Board, I ask if Professor McGonagall is a suitable replacement Headmaster for Dumbledore. She is as responsible for this near fatal incident as he, if not moreso. I would not question her teaching skills and experience. I do not believe merely not considering her to replace Dumbledore, assuming a motion to remove him passes, is sufficient. She should be disciplined, sharply. Loss of the Deputy role, certainly, Head of Gryffindor is very nearly as prestigious."
Minerva McGonagall stumbled back in shock, having to be caught between Professors Sinestra and Flitwick.
Dumbledore was removed, the Board voted 8-3 with 1 abstention. The Wizengamot resolution passed 70-27 with 3 abstentions.
"I do not need Sybil's remarkable gift." McGonagall sat stiffly "I shall forfeit all pay and bonuses related to both positions effective immediately. I offer to assist whosoever the Board selects to replace me, to ensure smooth transitions."
Lucius hid a victorious smile "I think such a solution may indeed be in the best interest of Hogwarts. One last matter, then, is the final member of this conspiracy of stupidity. Without a sitting Headmaster I would say personnel decisions rest with I and my illustrious colleagues. I move for the termination of one Rubeus Hagrid and his expulsion from all Hogwarts property."
"Hogwarts is me home! You rotten Dea- -" Hagrid surged from his seat most violently. And was promptly stunned by Wizengamot security.
A defeated Dumbledore weakly pleaded "At least allow him to remain in his home."
"When Draco's survival was in doubt, my Lady Narcissa" Lucius had a vicious gleam in his eyes "suggested his eyesore be burned to the ground. With him still in it. In light of that outburst, I ask the Wizengamot to take up exiling this dangerous individual completely from the entire area to include the town of Hogsmeade as Hogwarts weekends are a frequent activity."
In the final analysis Lucius went home for a huge celebratory firewhiskey. But not even that third glass could quite get rid of the taste of Hermione Granger.
