Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be pretty packed. It's also going to give Galleth a chance to show off what he learned about Hogwarts during the last time he came here. Trust me, Galleth might be a knight and a bonafide Gryffindor, but he has some Slytherin traits to him and he is going to show them off this chapter. And with that he's going to be a big help to Carmelita. Oh, and there is going to be a change in the POV later down the chapter.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 22
A Friend In The Wrong

25th of November 1994
Hogwarts Grounds, Scotland
Galleth's POV

As we left the Transfigurations classroom, Harry quickly makes sure that the Ravenclaws keep quiet about the whole thing with Sirius. He tells them that Professor Flitwick had asked the same of him and the Hufflepuffs during their Charms class and the Ravens had happily consented to this. Dumbledore had realized that there was still a bit of time between the end of their period and the start of the next class as he escorted us to the grounds.
"Wonderful, then hopefully we'll be able to settle these matters before ComC starts." Yet for some reason I noticed that, the closer we got the grounds, the more Harry was trying to hide a grimace for some reason. "You alright, Little Coon?" I gently ask the young lad and he mutters: "I don't know. I know that discussing these topics with Hagrid isn't going to be pleasant, but – for some reason I have a bad feeling about all of this."

Neville moves closer and says: "Probably because we share this class with the Snakes. You know how Malfoy thinks about Hagrid and the Headmaster, Harry. He's probably going to try to milk this for all its worth." But while Harry nods, the look on his face doesn't change. At this I wonder if that is really the cause behind his sense of foreboding about all this. At the same time I recall what I know about the Slytherins, both present and past.
With a start I remember what Sly and the others told us about a boy named Draco Malfoy. How he was Harry's rival and someone who tried to get Murray into trouble the other night. I also recall Sly telling us about the whole situation between the lad and the Hippogriff named Buckbeak. And as I remember how, in the past, I managed to save a few students' lives by negotiating with the Snakes of those times, an idea forms in my head.
"I may be a bold and brave knight, but I did learn how to be cunning during my last visit. And while it was foolish of me not to use those skills against the Moat Monster and Penelope, it cannot be denied that I don't learn from my mistakes. If this young Malfoy Scion really has such a negative opinion of the two men, perhaps I can use this to my advantage. If I play my cards right and word my plan right, I might be able to convince him."

Then I get distracted as Carmelita suddenly spots something up ahead on the other side of the bridge we are crossing. And to my shock I spot Sly and the other ancestors, alongside Bentley, Murray, a koala named Guru and the iguana named Dimitri. Dumbledore asks my descendant what he is doing outside of the Hospital Wing and Sly explains: "Galleth's story upset Carmelita so, that the bond made me much too agitated.
I struck a deal with Madam Pomfrey. As long as I stay close to the ancestors and return to her care as soon as I start to tire, I'm allowed some fresh air to help me calm down. And I know that you're planning to talk with Hagrid, sir, and I'd like to be there. I'm kind of done experiencing the whole thing second-hand and Madam Pomfrey agrees with me." A few of the students are shocked to hear this, but Dumbledore nods in understanding.

Then Sly looks up and seems to spot something coming up behind us. We turn around as a group of students with green trims on their robes approach. The student up front is a boy with a haughty look on his face and who has his blonde hair slicked to the back of his head. There is a cautious look on his face, but his eyes hide a strange sense of amusement. Instantly I recognize Draco Malfoy from the description Harry gave the other night.
"Ah splendid, everyone's here. Let's be off. I need to discuss a few valiant topics with Professor Hagrid before you start today's class." Dumbledore says and I notice that this intrigues all of the snakes. All of us pass the Stone Circle and the ancestors come to join with Carmelita, Harry and myself. And naturally Sly wraps a loving arm around Carmelita's waist and kisses her cheek as he greets her and calls her gorgeous.

I send a short glance at the blonde that is walking behind us and then I hiss at Rioichi, who is walking on my right, to cover for me. The Ninja nods and I slow down my pace at the same time that he steps to the left. Seamlessly my descendant takes my place and I move to walk with the blonde. "What do you want, pesk?" The boy hisses and I mutter: "To see if you are as cunning and ambitious as the Snakes I met 700 years ago."
Instantly I have his attention and I say: "It is true that, to me, that was only a little over a year and a half ago now, but I don't believe that to really matter. What matters is that, to my knowledge, you Snakes like to make deals if you see a situation that can either benefit you or bring you amusement. Is this correct?" The blonde gives a cautious nod and I spot Harry looking at us over his shoulder with a cautious and curious look on his face.

"It might interest you to hear that Dumbledore is going to reprimand Hagrid about several topics where he has been in the wrong. It has also come to my attention that you were once willing to make Hagrid suffer through a pet of his. Tell me, young Snake. Would you rather see him suffer over the loss of life or over the fact that he disappointed the one man he looks up to above all others? Which would amuse you more?"
The boy stares at me curiously as we head down the mountain and he mutters: "Name one topic Dumbledore is going to reprimand that oaf on." I nod and tell him about the detention he was given back in his First year. The boy falters and almost slips on the slope like ground. He regains himself, yet I am already quite confident that I am going to get my way. The boy then tries to pretend that he didn't almost fall and I just go along with it.

"What do you want?" He asks and I force my face not to split into a victorious grin. Both of us stay standing and the other Snakes pass us, a few of them glaring at me suspiciously. "Your word. I will keep the other Lions from disturbing your entertainment and will aid the Headmaster in his efforts to see Hagrid be put to task. In return at the end of the class, you write your father and ask him to drop the charges against the Hippogriff."
For a moment the boy looks thoughtful, but then slowly a grin of actual respect grows on his face. He sticks his hand out and says: "For a pesk and one that dresses like those foolish mewling kittens, you sure know how to speak the tongue of the Noble Snakes." I grin back at him and as I shake his hand I tell him that I used that same tongue to solve the issues so long ago. To this the boy rewards me with another respectful grin.

At the same time
Harry's POV

When Galleth and Malfoy stayed behind while the other Snakes kept following us I felt a moment of fear for my ancestor. I suppressed this with the reminder that, next to Bob, Galleth is definitely the strongest of my ancestors. Instead I just returned my focus back on the trip down the mountain. And when Galleth joined us just before we reached the bottom, the grin on his face helped to alleviate my last concerns.
He moves closer to Carmelita and softly tells her that she now has one less case to worry about. Instantly both our eyes widen and Galleth's actions make sense. I want to jump and thank the man, but I decide to just leave that for later. Yet I still beam at the man as he retakes his position next to me and Rioichi retakes his position on Galleth's right. Rioichi also apparently heard the knight and he compliments him as we head for the hut.

Hagrid exits the hut just as we reach it and suddenly I realize something. The crates that usually contain the Skrewts are nowhere in sight. I want to look around for them, but then I notice that Hagrid is staring at my ancestors with a strangely pleased look on his face. And suddenly my sense of dread makes sense. My eyes widen and I mutter silently: "There's no way. He – he wouldn't." The others all turn to stare at me.
I start to shake my head more and more feverishly and with my eyes try to beg Hagrid to prove me and my sense of dread wrong. But the man is oblivious to this as he spots Dumbledore and booms: "Headmaster! Good to see you, sir. And you got this lot with you too. That's great. I was planning to go get them from Madam Pomfrey myself, but you just saved me the trouble. Thank you, sir. Now I can start my class."

Dumbledore looks at his most loyal employee in confusion, but Hagrid mentioning the Hospital Wing confirms my fears for me. And instantly I make a decision. "I'm out of here." I declare loudly while I try my hardest to hold back tears of pain and betrayal. Everyone turns to me and I snarl: "I refuse. I refuse to let you treat my family like that. You disgust me, Hagrid. I can't believe that you would do something like this! You bastard!"
And instantly Dumbledore's eyes widen as the man realizes what I mean. He turns to Hagrid just as I furiously turn around. And while Hagrid wants to call me back, I shout: "EXPEL ME FOR ALL I CARE!" But then, to my shock, Carmelita stops me by putting a hand on my arm. "You have every right to ditch this class, Harry. But let's discuss the problems we came here to address first. Just stay close to your family, pequeño."

Carmelita puts an angry emphasis on the word family as she glares at Hagrid. Yet her voice is full of love and affection as she gives me a petname in her native tongue. The others also come to stand with me and Bob wraps his huge, furry body and arms around me. I take several deep breaths as his form and embrace help me calm down. After a moment or so, I nod at him and the caveman raccoon lets go off me again and steps back.
We all turn to Hagrid as one, who just stares at us. He turns to Dumbledore, but before he can even open his mouth, the ancient wizard speaks up. "Hagrid, I cannot even begin to express how distressed, disgusted and disappointed I am in you right now. Just the other day I told everyone that the Coopers and their Gang are their world's equivalent to human beings. And now, even though you know that Harry and Sly are brothers, you try this?"

Hagrid's eyes are wide with disbelief and I feel my heart break a little more. I just can't believe that the man was under the impression that Dumbledore would support him in something like this. I wonder what I could have done to make Hagrid believe this. For a moment I wonder if this has to do with that whole situation with Sirius and Halloween night all those years ago. Yet even this I can't consider an acceptable reason.
From the corner of my eye I notice a grinning Malfoy sending a thumb's up at Galleth, who gives him a short nod in return. Then Dumbledore continues speaking. "Hagrid, the whole reason I came with this class was because of topics that had been brought to my attention in the last period. During Minerva's Transfigurations class I learned of something that happened three years ago that you were involved in, very much so.

And while I remember you coming to me at the end of the year and confessing about your mistakes in regards to the Third Floor Corridor, it now appears that you omitted a part of that confession. Tell me, Hagrid, is it true that you, on the same night you made that mistake, got your hands on a dragon or dragon egg that later hatched and that you tried to raise? That this was why you skipped out on your other duties as Grounds Keeper?
Is it true that, because of this, young Harry and Miss Granger convinced you to send the dragon to young Ronald's brother Charlie and that them doing so at the top of the Astronomy Tower got them in trouble with Minerva? Is this true, Hagrid? Did Harry and Miss Granger help you before your love for your pet got you in trouble and that they got in trouble for their efforts in aiding you? And that you joined in on punishing them when they did?"

I notice that Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender and the other girls, whose names I forgot, are sharing looks of either guilt or disbelief with each other. At the same time the Slytherins seem to be really enjoying the sight before them as they are all grinning, snickering and giggling. Hagrid, in the mean time, seems at a loss for words and just rubs the back of his head. "Hagrid, why would you punish them for helping you?"
Dumbledore asks and for just the fraction of a moment I feel a spark of hope rise within me. But Hagrid's next words feel like his huge hand grabs my heart and squeezes it with his enormous power, turning my heart into nothing but a broken straw. "Sir, you were out of the country. You were busy with the ICW at the time. What was I supposed to do? Professor McGonagall was in charge. I was just following her orders."

This time even a few Snakes are staring at the man in disbelief and so are all of the Lions. At the same Sly mutters how he has heard enough. And the raccoon that is my brother only needs to motion the others for them to come and surround me once again. And as one they all pull their canes and aim each cane at the giant man. Hagrid's eyes widen at this, yet Dumbledore seems unfazed. The look in his eyes even conveys his acceptance.
Then Carmelita, who also has her Shock Gun held in both hands and has Murray and Bentley with her, heads over to stand with the two adults. She pulls her badge from her choker and speaks. "Hagrid, earlier this morning Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore and High Lord Marcus Solde discovered that I am a Third Degree Inspector for Interpol. That is of the same rank as a Rookie Auror Body Guard for Third Rank members of the ICW.
Both of them have already officially recognized my position as such and since then I have taken on a few cases that I consider quite valiantly important. And right now, apparently, you are making the exact same mistake you made thirteen years ago. Back then, according to my client, you refused to acknowledge his rights as Harry's new guardian upon the death of the Potters, because you claimed to have orders from Dumbledore.

And now you seem to have made the same mistake." Hagrid stares at her for a moment and then yells: "How do you lot know about that anyway?" And while his anger makes Carmelita aim her gun at him, makes Murray take a defensive stance with his fists up, it also makes Bentley press a button on his wheelchair. And to the shock of us all, this makes several mechanical arms erupt from the wheelchair, some holding bombs.
He also pulls out a dart gun and aims it at Hagrid after he presses the button. But then Hermione steps up and angrily snarls: "We know about this, Hagrid, because you and Professor McGonagall thought it was okay to talk about that same night in the middle of the Three Broomsticks during a Hogsmeade weekend. I was sitting right next to your table when you did. The only thing hiding me from your sight was a damned Christmas Tree!"

Hagrid cringes and Murray makes him cringe again as he mutters about how he had already told the man about this. Then the other ancestors further close their circle around me as Hagrid asks us what he was supposed to do. And while Dumbledore wants to answer, he and I are both shocked when Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Neville and the other girls shout: "RESPECT THE ROLE OF THE ONE WHO SAVED THE POTTERS TEN MONTHS EARLIER!"
Everyone turns to the group in shock and Seamus lets loose a couple of Irish curse words before he snarls: "Sirius Black, according to Professor McGonagall saved the Potters on New Years Eve in 1980. And Professor Flitwick admitted that he should not have discarded the events of ten years due to what happened over only two nights. That it should have been the other way around. And next to that, everyone knows that James Potter was a Trickster!
So why it has taken you lot this long to realize that James Potter declaring for the world to hear that Black was his Secret Keeper might have been a trick is bloody well beyond me. According to Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall you even fought alongside Black. And everything that happened in the previous year, if you take a closer look at it all with the friendship of Black and Potter in mind, just proves his innocence.

Him muttering about someone being at Hogwarts? It happened right after he got that newspaper from Fudge. The same one that, for the first time in years, featured the Weasleys. And they had a rat that was, conveniently, 12 years old and missing the same damned finger that everyone believed had been left behind after Pettigrew got blown up.
But Pettigrew was also known to have been a friend of the Potters, so why did no one ever suspect that he might have been the traitor and that he framed Black for his own crimes? Why do beings of another world have to come here for you lot to realize how wrong you were all those years ago? And if Black really was after a 12 year old rat, him trying to get into our common room on the one night we're not there makes a bloody lot of sense.
Same with the fact that he tried to attack Ron several months later and that Ron was the one to end up with that weird leg injury the night Black escaped his capture at the end of last year. The whole thing makes a bloody lot of sense and proves that the Potters were never in the wrong to trust Black on the level that they did." Then Hermione mutters about how Hagrid gave Scabbers back to Ron that same night and Seamus exclaims the word exactly!

Hagrid stares at us all. Most of his face is hidden by his hair and his wild beard, but the look on his face is still clear to see. He doesn't believe a word we're saying. "You lot are all bloody mad." He mutters at us. Dean and Seamus exclaim their shock and disgust with the man. But Dumbledore raises a hand and silences them. He turns to Hagrid and there is a stern look of disappointment on the elder man's face as he says:
"No Hagrid, the students are correct. And I know what you want to say, but you need to remember that I had other roles to play during those months. I admit my guilt in never actually questioning the situation, in never even visiting Sirius to hear his side of the story. But I was not present when Sirius was arrested or when he was sent to Azkaban. I fear even that he might have been sent there without a trial, let alone a questioning."

Yet here Hagrid wants to argue that Fudge will never listen. Carmelita steps up and says: "That might be, but according to the Supreme Mugwump my rank outweighs Fudge's as Minister for Magic. Dumbledore and High Lord Solde are the only two members of the First Rank in the ICW. And I would like to remind you that my rank puts me on equal footing with a body guard for the Third Rank, only two ranks lower.
Pretty impressive for someone you consider nothing more than a creature, Professor." Hagrid winces again at the end of Carmelita's statement and I quickly spare a glance at Malfoy. The blonde has gone to lean against the fence surrounding Hagrid's pumpkin field and there is a huge grin of delight and enjoyment on his face. I feel disgusted over this, yet I keep my mouth shut. Then Hermione steps up and with tears streaming down her face, she declares:

"And besides, only two years ago you tried to defend yourself when Fudge sent you to Azkaban over that whole Chamber the debacle. That you're not willing to do the same for Sirius right now! That you continue to betray him like this and still have the guts to call him the traitor! You disgust me, Hagrid. I cannot even begin to express how disgusted I am with you or myself. I never should have worked so hard to defend that pet of yours!"
Hagrid exclaims Hermione's name at this, but the girl just angrily shouts that she doesn't want to hear it and turns around. But then Malfoy actually stands up and says: "Speaking of that overgrown pigeon, I've seen enough. I made a deal with Sir Galleth and I consider our deal properly met. Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore, after class I will happily write my father and ask him to drop the charges against that blasted rooster."

Dumbledore beams in pride at the blonde while Hagrid is gaping at Malfoy. Several others are as well, though a few of them are also staring at Galleth, who just grins at the sight. "That is wonderful to hear, Mr. Malfoy. If you want, you can skip the rest of your class and write the letter right now. No time like the present as they always say." Malfoy nods and motions for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him as he leaves the field.
Hagrid wants to call the three of them back, but Dumbledore stops him. "Leave it, Hagrid. There are still a few matters that need to be cleared up and taken care of. And right now I expect your full cooperation. Your opinion is not required, just your work ethic, understand?" Hagrid blinks and stare at the stern visage of his boss and nods dumbly after a minute. Dumbledore nods back and the elder man's face slightly relaxes.

"Tell me, Hagrid, when you made the mistake of cooperating in punishing Harry for your own misdeeds, what exactly did you do? What did you have Harry and the others do while you supervised a detention you know they did not deserve?" Hermione and I share a glance at this as I remember Hagrid telling Malfoy the opposite of this during said detention. Then Hagrid answers: "I took them into the Forest, sir.
There was something hurtin' the unicorns, so I had them help me track it down." And if Hagrid believed that answering the question would help him get back in Dumbledore's good graces, he was clearly wrong. Dumbledore's whole visage whitens and Galleth whispers: "Is he mad or something? Even when I was here last time the Groundskeeper of the time didn't dare to send the strongest of Seventh Years on a task like that."

Dumbledore sighs to calm down from the shock he clearly experienced and he says: "Hagrid, I cannot even begin to express how much I agree with Sir Galleth. The only one who I would consider capable of handling the task you put on the shoulders of children is Alastor. Alastor, Hagrid! And even he would be cautious with handling this task. Now, Inspector Cooper has one last question for you and then I will decide what to do about all this.
Her question will reveal something that you are to keep secret above all else, Hagrid, but I do not want you to comment on this. Just answer her question and leave it at that. And just to give you an example of how I feel about your beliefs and actions so far, Hagrid, I will not object if Inspector Cooper shoots at you. Not if she believes that you are about to attack her or something of the sort. And the same goes for her husband and her team."

By now Hagrid looks as if his whole world is just crumbling around him and I can't help but think that he finally knows how I felt when he made his suggestion. I also hear Parkinson whisper at Bullstrode how she considers it a regret that Malfoy isn't here to enjoy this. The bulkier Snake nods in agreement with her and Carmelita adjusts the power of her Shock Gun before she pulls out her notepad. She looks at Hagrid sternly and asks:
"Tel me, witness. Does this quote sound familiar to you at all? You can throw that hunk of junk in the Thames for all I care. Just bring my boy back to me once he's cured. Nothing else matters." Hagrid's eyes widen along with the eyes of several others, including all of Hermione's dorm mates. Lavender whispers how that line is like a nail on the coffin of Sirius' freedom and her friend nods while Hagrid asks Carmelita how she knows.

But Carmelita just looks down and says that she'll take that as a yes. She thanks the man, but before she can continue Dumbledore raises his hand at her. He looks from her to Hagrid and speaks up. "Hagrid, when you met with me and Minerva on the first of November and told me that you had gotten that motorcycle from Sirius, I seem to have misunderstood your words. I thought you had met Sirius on your way to meet me.
That you had gotten Harry from the rubble, took him to Hogwarts and that you met Sirius there while Poppy was healing his wounds or something. Are you telling me that Sirius was also there that night?" Yet Hagrid seems to get the wrong idea and says: "Yes Headmaster, he was. I mean, I got there first and Black only arrived after. I came across him after I got Harry out of his nursery. That bastard was just staring at poor James' form."

The man wants to continue, but Carmelita interrupts him and asks him if he was able to see Sirius' face while he was staring at my father. Hagrid looks startled and answers negative. And then Carmelita hits her own nail on the coffin and asks: "And is it true or false that, after you and my client argued about his rights as Harry's godfather for several minutes, my client was the one to clean Harry's head wound? While you had been there first?"
Hagrid cringes again and Lavender whispers a word of disgust. Carmelita nods and makes a quick note in her notepad. "Well, going by what I've learned so far, I can honestly say that Sirius was indeed innocent. The Potters not risking their son's future by putting his godfather in such a perilous situation such as naming him Secret Keeper is one thing, Black's own testimony and you confirming most of his testimony another.

Take everything else I have learned so far, I got from Harry about the events in June and the position my rank allows me and I don't think I will have much issue in finally doing what you seem too stubborn to believe in, Hagrid. But know this, I am now married to the one who, by all means, is a son to the man you once called a friend. I am talking about James Potter, Hagrid. And in my humble opinion, Sirius isn't the traitor, you are.
A traitor to the Potters and what they believed in. A traitor to their sacrifice and who they even died for in the first place, which is their son and no one else. And a traitor to the decisions they made before their death, such as the role they appointed Sirius. You and your stubborn need to just follow another person's orders instead of forming your own opinion and realizing that orders aren't always right and shouldn't always be blindly followed.
That makes you a traitor to them and their sacrifice. And as Inspector of Interpol and a newly married Cooper, I can promise you this." Carmelita has, by this point, put away her notepad. She again adjusts the power of her Shock Gun and steps back as she aims it at the man. Hagrid's eyes are wide, yet at the same time his face is red with rage. I can easily see that it's just Bentley, Murray and Dumbledore that are keeping him from lashing out.

"Going by what I have heard so far, my little brother in law has been helping you out of sticky situations several times in just the last few years. But instead of being grateful, you dare to ask even more of him and even go so far as to insult his family. You also continue to hold onto beliefs that are even being negated by the one man you worship above all else, yet that is not enough for you. Well, I have had enough of you.
From this moment on until the wall's magic takes my partner, team and I back to our own world, I will keep my shock gun close. And if you dare to try and approach my brother one more time and I don't see an apologetic look on that mug of yours –." Carmelita holds quiet for a moment, but then she changes the direction of her gun. She fires a single shot and the scarecrow on the pumpkin field is the one to get hit.

And instantly it explodes and the sound of a lightning bolt hitting stone is heard throughout the air. Flimsy pieces and bits of fodder flutter down to the soil and the stick that was holding up the scarecrow is now nothing more than a few charred remains. Everyone gapes in shock at the sight and Carmelita says: "Well, that was a demonstration of my weapon's full power. I won't use that much on you, but I will shoot. That I promise you."
Hagrid looks between his broken scarecrow and Carmelita and sheer fright is clear on his face. Yet while I am in awe over the power of my sister's weapon and touched by her words, one statement of hers scares me. Until the wall's magic takes my partner, team and I back to our world. These words ring through my ears and I can only think: "I don't want them to go. I don't want to lose them. I – I don't want to be an orphan anymore."
My whole body shakes as these thoughts keep repeating themselves in my mind. Somewhere in the distance I can hear voices, but I can barely discern them or what they're saying. And suddenly something feels like it snaps within me, as if an elastic band was pulled too tightly and snaps in half. Instantly I feel as if my whole body is on fire, feel several parts changing painfully and feel additions growing all over. I scream in agonizing pain.

Wait WHAT?
Like I told you guys. Harry is going to have a Raccoon form in this version. Oh and Carmelita's little warning. That was a hint. Hagrid is going to be kept away from Harry for a while, but I'm not going to just continuously bash him and do nothing else. Sooner or later he too will come to his senses. I can't really say when this will be yet as I haven't thought that far ahead. But I like Hagrid and I don't want to stay mad at him.
Okay? Good,

Venquine1990