Disclaimer: All things you recognize from the seven Harry Potter books belong to J.K. Rowling. I am merely borrowing for my own entertainment and do not earn anything for writing this story.

Hi, I'm back. This is the monthly update I promised, and if I have time, I might give you guys a second update, who knows? So sit tight, and please read, enjoy, and review!

2021.4.2.

A Bloody Hand: Things Just Seem to Happen Together

Chapter 8

Albus Dumbledore had never felt so weary in his life—never.

He had been irresponsible, not looking out for his students, but he promised himself he would try to make up for it during the rest of the school year. He would have plenty of time.

He had already contacted St Mungo's and explained the situation to the some of the Healers there. He had not mentioned Harry or any other student, only that he would like every student to be given a physical health check so as to ensure their well-being. After all, some might be afraid to speak up about their injuries, but diagnosis scans would make sure all of them were healthy.

Harry's name, had thankfully, been kept out of everything. The Ministry had contacted him after Umbridge had been taken into custody by the two Aurors and asked for a memory or recording of the interrogation. He had produced the vial then, and the Ministry had deemed it enough evidence to give Umbridge a sentence. So, much to his relief, Harry's name hadn't been dragged into the mess, and he could tell Minerva was relieved too.

Dumbledore turned to look at Fawkes, his phoenix and faithful companion. "Fawkes, my friend," he said gravely, "I'm afraid … I have a lot to make up for."

Fawkes did nothing, merely looked at him, and Dumbledore sighed. He had to see to his other duties as the headmaster now.

XXX

Harry Potter was having an okay day. Umbridge was out of the way now, and the meeting with Dumbledore was over. Now, if only Hermione wouldn't keep following him around as if he were a toddler or an unfaithful friend or something like that, life would be fine. Not perfect, because Sirius was still stuck in 12 Grimmauld Place and there was Voldemort, but it would be fine.

Currently, Harry was sitting in the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione. They were having dinner, and since they had come in on time instead of early or late, there were a lot of chattering students around. Thankfully, this prevented Hermione from asking him where he had gone in the afternoon, which he would tell her soon enough.

Suddenly, the babble of voices stopped, and a silence fell over the students. Hermione and Ron stopped arguing about house-elf rights and looked around. Dumbledore had stood up, realized Harry.

"Good evening," said Dumbledore, his expression sober, though his eyes still twinkled slightly. "It appears I have failed you. Maybe all of you, maybe most of you – for I have been irresponsible."

Confused whispering broke out among the students, and Dumbledore held up his hands for silence. He continued, "I have recently been notified of some … happenings, which I will explain tomorrow, at breakfast. Please make sure all of your friends and housemates arrive at breakfast on time and inform those who aren't present now. If they are under the care of Madam Pomfrey, they will still be notified of the recent happenings through us professors."

Dumbledore paused, his gaze sweeping the silent hall, then said, "You are dismissed. Finish your dinner in peace, and don't ponder overly about my announcement. None of you are in trouble – for now."

He turned and strode briskly out of the Great Hall, and the curious students broke into whispers.

Hermione, looking rather anxious, said with a frown, "What can have happened? What does he mean, he's been 'irresponsible'? And how has he 'failed' us?"

Harry swallowed. He realized now was as good a time as any to explain. He leaned a little closer towards Hermione and Ron and whispered, "Meet me in the library, I have a few things to explain."

Realization dawned on Hermione's face, and Ron grinned, looking interested. Harry jumped up from the bench and half ran out of the Great Hall, not looking back to see if Hermione and Ron followed. He knew they would.

Once Harry was out of the Great Hall and away from other people's prying eyes, he broke into a jog and hurried to the Gryffindor common room. In a minute, he had got his Cloak and was heading towards the library.

Harry settled down in a quiet corner and waited for Hermione and Ron. He took off his cloak and stuffed it into his bag, which he had forgotten to leave in his dorm. Then he chose an armchair and sat down, waiting for his two best friends.

He didn't have to wait long. He hadn't heard them entering the library, but suddenly, they were in front of him.

"Hey, mate," said Ron. "Couldn't you have chosen somewhere nearer to the entrance?"

Harry shook his head. "Sorry," he said, "but this is very secret, okay?" He shifted slightly in his seat. He wanted to get this over with so he could take a shower and get some sleep. Uncle Vernon had given him quite a few bruises and slightly bleeding wounds during the last week he was with them, and they still weren't fully healed. He had felt the worst at 12 Grimmauld Place but he still felt pain though it hadn't been as bad last week, and Harry decided that the worry and lack of sleep because of Umbridge's detentions and catching up on homework was catching up to him, so now he felt weary and experienced pain whenever he moved.

"Okay," said Hermione. "Hang on," she added, "I think I know a spell for this kind of thing." She frowned, muttering under her breath and walking in a small circle around them while waving her wand, "Priva silentim."

"What's that?" asked Ron, frowning.

Hermione flushed. "It's a spell like Silencio," she explained. "It's for privacy. It doesn't block the sound from outside the circle I walked, but it make whatever sounds we make silent to people outside, see? So we'll know if anyone is coming, and no one will be able to eavesdrop on us."

"It's perfect," declared Harry. "Alright, so let me explain …" Harry spent the next twenty minutes explaining his midnight meeting with McGonagall and his meeting this afternoon with Dumbledore. He didn't need to explain about Umbridge because Hermione and Ron already knew about that.

"Wow," said Ron in awe, when Harry told them about McGonagall shouting at Dumbledore.

Hermione looked impressed too. "I never thought someone would shout at Dumbledore," she admitted.

"I didn't know McGonagall could get angry like that," said Harry, after a pause. He didn't think it was that surprising McGonagall had been furious at Dumbledore though, unlike Ron and Hermione, because he had wanted to explode at the man that afternoon, even though he wasn't very sure why – the feeling just suddenly appeared, and only now was he acknowledging it because if he had taken proper notice of it that afternoon, in the office, he would have lost his temper, which he didn't really want.

"… and then McGonagall was like 'Go now,' so I went," concluded Harry.

Hermione nodded, frowning. "But why didn't you just tell us? About McGonagall finding out about Umbridge, I mean, and meeting Dumbledore," she asked, looking perplexed. "We'd have supported you, or something!"

Harry hesitated. "Well …" he said slowly, "I suppose I thought I just …. I dunno," he admitted. "I just didn't think it's important." There was a pause, then he added, "It's difficult to explain, really. At least I've told you now."

Ron nodded and Hermione sighed. "At least it's not very important," she said, relenting, and gave him a small smile.

Harry laughed, and Ron grinned. Harry knew Hermione considered this very important indeed, though he had a feeling it was more because he had trusted them than because of the blood quill and the revelation that McGonagall had found out and they had worked together (sort of). After all, they knew he didn't trust easily (though she and Ron didn't know the reason for that), and he didn't like to go to anyone about lots of things and sometimes still kept secrets from his best friends, though Harry did think he was getting better at not keeping secrets from them.

"So!" said Ron cheerfully, standing up from the armchair he had been sitting on. "Let's go back to the common room, okay?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Let's."

XXX

That night, as Harry put on his pajamas after a shower, he felt incredibly grateful for Hermione and Ron. Although neither of his best friends were perfect, Hermione was smart and bookish and mostly understanding while Ron was more about relaxing and fun and understood some stuff Hermione just couldn't because of her more prim and proper nature.

Harry smiled. Ron might be a jealous idiot sometimes, but he was one of his best friends, and he had always come back, which was what was important to Harry.

Yes – Harry was very glad for his two best friends and that their friendship was now, once again, complete and stable again because Harry had told the truth about a few things which, knowing how much his friends cared about him, would probably seem pretty unimportant, if they knew what Harry had been hiding since their first year. Still, Harry had trusted them, trusted them with this secret that no other student in the school knew, so for the time being, all three of them were at peace … mostly anyway.