Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter world or characters, I'm just a fan :)
Chapter 7 - Do I Wanna Know?
May, 1991
Charlie
Even Charlie felt chilled at the sight of that face of evil, watching heatedly before it left Quirrell's neck, floating around like a cloud of darkness, hissing as it did. Quirrell's neck slammed forward as Dumbledore jumped to his feet, his wand shooting one jet of sparkles after the other, but it was all in vain.
All children screamed, some Professors as well, Harry Potter fainted to the ground and so did a small girl in Hufflepuff.
That… spirit passed through the oak doors and was gone, and Charlie made his creature freeze and release the limp Professor, who crumbled to the floor.
"STUDENTS!" Dumbledore roared, "TO YOUR DORMS! Heads of houses, escort them! Mr. Weasley, approach immediately!"
Charlie's legs trembled somewhat as he walked slowly to his beloved former Headmaster. He nodded in the direction of the three First-Years who looked frightened as they carried a dazed Harry and followed their house.
The Hall evacuated quickly as Dumbledore muttered one complicated spell after the other, his eyes closed and his wand slashing the air as various colouful jets such as gold, blue and green shot out.
Quirrell was tied in thick ropes, his face ashen and his eyes closed, his breathing very shallow. Charlie's hand tightened around his wand as he waited for the Headmaster to finish.
"You knew?" Dumbledore asked before he even opened his eyes, and Charlie's eyes snapped to Dumbledore's face as an itching started inside his head, as if his brain was… probed.
"You're… you're reading my mind as we speak, Headmaster," he lowered his head. He never really thought he'd manage to hide the truth from Dumbledore. He caught some of the children's paranoia and simply preferred that the truth to be revealed more… publicly. In hindsight, was it the wisest thing to do?
Perhaps not.
"It was the safest thing to do, Headmaster Dumbledore," Charlie watched him from his lowered gaze.
Dumbledore was angrier than Charlie has ever seen him, his white eyebrows furrowed and his eyes shooting blisters. "How so, Mr. Weasley?"
"The children didn't trust anyone once they saw the creature reside in the neck of their Professor. They knew most Professors were in the clear, but they didn't know which are. So they revealed him to maximum exposure, so the Professors on the right side will get involved."
"But you, Mr. Weasley, are not so young and foolish. You should have known better."
Charlie decided to confess the truth. "I wanted my brothers safe, Headmaster. I was worried they'd do something daft if I went against them. And the action they did choose, seemed safe enough. Especially since they allowed me to help them."
Dumbledore's eyes were filled with disappointment, there was no other way to read his gaze. "Selfish of you, Mr. Weasley. What happened today has grave consequences, ones even I can't predict. Had the matter got solved more… discreetly, the control over the situation was in the hands of those exposed to it. Now the number of those people reaches… hundreds. You're not to leave the castle. I must reach certain individuals before we move further. Excuse me."
Charlie stared after his esteemed Professor with regret, and a considerate amount of fear.
Harry
So… dark. Dark and painful. His head… his scar really, felt as if it was constantly and steadily slammed with dozens of bricks.
"What did we do?!" He heard a shriek.
Must be Hermione… His brain concluded tiredly, and he decided to go back to sleep. His scar hurt and he wished to postpone Hermione's lecturing for a bit if he can.
"Hush, Hermione, Pomfrey will be back soon. Oi, he's waking up!" A voice said happily, and Harry couldn't decide if it was Fred or George. Not only did they look the same, but they sounded quite alike too.
"Harry," one of them started to shake his shoulder, "Harry!"
Definitely Fred. He's the pushier one, with much fewer boundaries.
"We did it, Harry!" Fred insisted, and Harry finally opened his eyes, to stare at his mates in dismay.
"My head feels rubbish," he muttered. His mates looked at him in confusion.
But soon enough, they dismissed it.
"I never saw Headmaster Dumbledore so angry!" Hermione was in tears.
"Of course he was angry, a demon hid under his nose the entire year!" George laughed as he patted her back.
"How can you be laughing?!" She demanded.
"I don't know," he grinned, "I have this rush at the bottom of my stomach -"
"I feel it too," Fred grinned as he skipped around Harry's bed, "this must be the most exciting thing we've ever done!"
"Calm down, boys," a deeper, steadier voice said from the entrance of the room, "this is the last time you do such a thing, I assure you."
"Charlie!" The twins cheered together, before each grabbed a hand and they started to dance with him on the spot. Their older brother seemed amused, and not very surprised as he allowed them to carry on before he sat slowly at the end of Harry's bed, his eyes watching him seriously. "Are you feeling better lad?"
"My scar hurts," he repeated what he told his mates earlier.
"Your… your scar?" Charlie scanned him more seriously. "Isn't that the scar you got…"
"The night You-Know-Who killed your parents!" Hermione screeched and the twins sobered immediately. All three now gathered around his bed next to Charlie, their four concerned faces watching him.
Someone gasped from the other side of the room, and they all turned around to see Susan Bones as white as the wall behind her, watching him in fear. As soon as she saw them staring at her, her eyes widened. "Sorry!" She yelped.
"Perhaps we should discuss it elsewhere," Charlie said quietly.
"I really didn't think anything of it!" Susan squeaked, "perhaps he just hit his head against the table as I did."
"Perhaps," George agreed although Harry knew he was nowhere near a table when he cast the curse.
"You alright?" Fred watched the petite Hufflepuff.
"I'm fine. Like I said, I hit my head."
"Well anyway," Charlie continued in a hushed tone, "don't mention anything next to anyone. Hermione," Hermione straightened her back in surprise, "I trust you to be in charge and make sure no foolishness takes place -"
"You can trust me!"
George sighed quietly. "You shouldn't have done that…"
"- And Harry, I want you to rest. Now, I'm going to the library to read up on this. This thing is not common, and it's about time some of us do some research into it instead of just acting impulsively."
"But I did some reading, I read all there was to read on it!" Hermione protested.
"Restricted section as well?"
She blushed.
"All we managed to nick for her," George supplemented.
"Not thorough enough for such a rare phenomenon," Charlie concluded. "Now, stay here and help Harry feel better. Yes Fred, you stay here and do not move, I helped you now you listen to me."
Harry watched in surprise as Fred lowered down to the bed obediently.
"Charlie," George took a few steps forward, "Charlie, thank you."
Charlie's eyes softened as his hand reached forward to pat George on the shoulder. His other hand reached to mess Fred's hair. "Absolutely anything for family. You two know that."
Was it… was it adoration on the twins' faces as their older brother stepped away?
Harry and Hermione exchanged a smile at that. It was certainly a rare occurrence.
Charlie
He really didn't think he'd find anything.
But as he sat down to write how he felt when in the presence of that… essence…
It was a way for wizards dealing with magical creatures to track down what they were looking for. Instead of looking for the creature's description, look for how that creature affected others. And using another human being as a host, while leaving such a cold, nauseating feeling at the stomach of those who encounter it…
The only other creature Charlie came across that made him feel that was a Dementor. A soul-sucker.
Not entirely human, not entirely creature-like. Devoid of souls, they sucked the souls of others. But Quirrell wasn't left an empty shell, so the creature didn't exactly suck his soul out…
All he could find on Dementors was from the regular books about magical creatures, and all it said besides the dry information was that 'the soul should not be moved as it leaves an emptier and emptier shell at its demise.'
One word did jump to Charlie's head as he read this… Should?
As if it's a matter of choice, to be kissed by a Dementor or not.
As if moving the soul is attainable.
"Mr. Weasley," someone's breathy voice called for him, and he turned around to see some out-of-breath Ravenclaw student leaning on a chair next to him, "Headmaster Dumbledore wants to see you."
Charlie gulped. Time to face his actions.
/
"Have a seat, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore nodded to him as he paced around his office. Charlie sat down slowly, looking around himself in wonder at the funny objects scattered around the room. Charlie felt more at ease at the sight of a Sneakoscope sitting quietly at its spot. That… essence must be gone from the castle, as Dumbledore's Sneakoscope must be the best of its kind.
"Yes," Dumbledore stopped his pacing and watched his idle Sneakoscope, "the danger has passed. For now."
He handed Charlie a newspaper, and Charlie looked in surprise at the headlines, reading, 'A NEW BEAST? Researcher Charlie Weasley has discovered a new dangerous type of humanoids on Hogwarts grounds!'
"P-Professor?"
That blasted thing had an entire interview with him! One he never did!
"Mr. Weasley. You came here under false claims, and helped eleven-year-olds uncover magic they do not understand in front of the entire school! I cannot hide such a thing. The only thing left for me is to get it out under my terms, and you will cooaporate. It's either this or wiping yours and the entire school's memory!"
Charlie never saw Dumbledore lose his temper like that.
He grabbed the paper again, ignoring his interview to read the second headline. "It… it says here that the person hosting the demon died in the aftermath?"
"Well, yes," Dumbledore's voice was suddenly eerily calm, "Quirrell died when that spirit left his body. I'm sure you've noticed."
Charlie thought nothing but how much he regretted his involvement and of how he trusted his Professor, how much he believed his esteemed Headmaster. "Right. As you say, Headmaster. You must know how ashamed I am for the way I acted. I only did so out of fear for my twin brothers. You must know how love clouds your judgment."
Dumbledore's eyes softened. "Clouds… yes. That's right. Love is the most powerful thing in the world."
"If asked, I will confirm this article, Professor."
"Very well," Dumbledore nodded, "now, you may go. Leave Hogwarts please."
"I'll just bid my brothers goodbye and go, Professor. Thank you," and Charlie bowed his head and got up to his feet.
Fred
They sat next to Harry the entire day as the tired boy fell in and out of conscience. When Charlie was back, he was white and fearful.
"He… tried to alter my memory," he whispered to the First-years.
"Who did?" Harry looked up in surprise, his face still very ashen.
He looked around himself gravely. "Dumbledore. And he'd do the same to you, if you don't hold on to one truth in your heads. He'll call you to his office soon, and you four must remember - I saw Quirrell alive!" Charlie's whisper was filled with despair, "Dumbledore killed him. I don't know why, but Quirrell must have known something Dumbledore didn't want him to know. Knowing that saved my memory. Altered memory spells are weaker, and therefore more easily broken. Hold on to your truth and your memory will be intact."
Fred wanted to kick something.
What was with all the Professors in this bloody school?
"Why would Dumbledore do that?" Hermione asked in tears.
Charlie shook his head. "His heart is in the right place, I'm sure of it. I am," he said, looking directly at Fred as if he knew he would disagree, "he just did damage control. But that doesn't mean I want him to meddle with your memories. Claim Harry is too sick to go today, and have this," and he threw a newspaper on the bed, "to bring with you tomorrow, and say you had no idea what you encountered but this makes sense. Please, be as convincing as possible!"
The four looked at him in alarm.
George gulped. "Who can we trust?"
"Family," Charlie answered curtly, "and each other. And wait for an owl from me, I'll help you further. But right now I must go. Oh, and one last thing - dementors."
"Dementors?" Hermione repeated.
"I… I can't say anything further. That's all I have. I must go now."
And he got up and strode away.
The four stared after him in shock.
"Oh, Merlin," Hermione stuffed her head in Harry's blanket, probably wetting it with her tears. "What did we get ourselves into?"
/
Dumbledore surprised them all.
"Have a seat," he told the four of them, and gave them a small smile. "Harry, my boy, are you feeling quite alright? You seem pale. Perhaps I should've waited before calling you all here - but I wanted to calm you down, explain some things to you. What a troubling year it must have been for you four."
"Headmaster, we're so sorry!" Hermione cried before anyone could stop her or say something else, "we thought it the best thing to do, but clearly we were wrong! We should have come to you!"
Fred disagreed but kept his mouth shut.
He thought they acted just as they should - uncovered the demon in front of everyone for the good ones and the bad ones to see. Sure, they assumed Dumbledore was probably in the clear, but hey, so should have Quirrell been, right? After all, he was the one meant to teach them how to defend themselves from dark creatures, creatures like him.
George seemed unconvinced as well, and Harry looked torn.
Dumbledore's smile turned even kinder. "Calm down, Hermione, it's alright. The danger has passed. Sure, you four acted somewhat… impulsively, but I'm proud of you as my students for being so alert and good with your wands. Casting the vanishing spell at the mere age of eleven, Harry? That's very impressive. You certainly take after your parents."
Harry looked up in surprise. "My… my parents?"
The kindest smile yet gracing his lips, Dumbledore watched Harry fondly and Fred decided that even if his motives were questionable, he was a good man. He believed Dumbledore's kindness.
"Yes, Harry, your brave, talented parents. Your dad was fearless and ardent, just like you were when you got up to face danger, and your mother was a talented, bright witch. You take after them, clearly."
A wide, honest smile eased up Harry's serious face. For the first time in what felt like months, Harry smiled truthfully and happily.
"You four discovered something even I, being the Headmaster of this school, missed. It gives me no great pleasure to admit that I overlooked it, but here I must be honest. I didn't see Professor Quirrell for what he was."
Taking accountability. Fred liked that.
"Was he…" George hesitated, "Headmaster Dumbledore, may I ask something?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course you can, George."
"You tell us apart?" Fred cut in, but he was surprised.
A hint of amusement sparkled in his blue eyes. "With ease, actually, Fred. Those that don't just haven't… looked hard enough."
"See Harry?" Fred elbowed him, somewhat giddy, "now you have no excuse."
Harry glared at him, but the tense feeling in the room slowly and surely eased up.
"George," Dumbledore turned to Fred's twin, "you wanted to ask something?"
George nodded. "Was it You-Know-Who? A shadow of him, or something? Because Harry's scar hurt, and, and -"
"And I have a weird feeling in my gut, Professor," Harry said quietly, "I felt that I had to face him, and when I did, and the creature flew out, I felt as if my scar was making my head explode."
Dumbledore's eyes gleamed, but then he sobered and gave them another calm smile, "George, Harry, I debated with myself long and hard whether or not I should be truthful with you four. You are, after all, eleven. But you four discovered and defeated something even I missed. It feels ungrateful to lie to you. Besides -" and he gave Fred an amused smile, "- I have a feeling that if I lie to you, you'll no longer have faith in me."
Fred gave him an approving smile.
"I wish to be truthful, so that you four be alert. It was indeed an attempt of Lord Voldemort - don't gasp, I thought you brave enough to hear his full name - to return."
"But I thought he died the night he killed my parents!" Harry was shocked.
The Headmaster watched him quietly and then nodded. "Lord Voldemort went further than anyone else in the quest to attain immortality. He did some dreadful things. He is not immortal, but it seems like he'd found a way to grip the living world yet still. But he is a mere shadow, as you've noticed, and with enough effort from the just side, he shall remain that way. As it was, I doubt he'll attempt something like that again. Voldemort was exposed as an empty, weak shell, and I can state with confidence how he loathes appearing that way. No, he'll keep away from the public eye, and won't disturb us any longer."
"But…" Harry's eyes were wide, "can he hurt me, Professor? When I'm back in the Muggle world?"
"Not if I can help it, Harry," Dumbledore stated with confidence, "and I can, I assure you. Did you think you weren't protected all those years? You were, I made sure of it. And I'll continue to do so."
Silence followed that. The Quartet watched each other, and then the Headmaster again.
Fred had to know something. "How did Quirrell die?"
Dumbledore seemed hesitant. "One of the Professors terminated his life. But he was dying as it was, hosting Lord Voldemort and then having that essence leave his body weakened him immensely."
"Which Professor?"
Hermione frowned. "Fred! That's none of our concerns!"
Dumbledore gazed at Fred, then at Harry. "It was Professor Snape. Yes, I can see your surprise. You probably suspected him as well? Apart from some petty vendetta against Gryffindor house I cannot seem to defuse, Professor Snape is on our side, the good side. He's been spying after Quirrell this entire year."
That made sense to Fred. Snape was constantly following Quirrell, watching him critically…
But then again, what about the time -
"Didn't they join forces to knock me off my broom?" Harry asked with narrowed eyes.
"No Harry. Professor Quirrell tried to knock you off your broom, and Professor Snape helped save you. But I do believe it was Ms. Granger that truly stopped the curse when she knocked off Professor Quirrell and broke the eye contact he had with your broom."
Hermione blushed happily.
"That means you were suspicious of Quirrell -" Fred realized, horrified.
"- You knew he tried to kill Harry!" George finished for him, and they both frowned at their Headmaster.
He risked Harry's life!
Dumbledore bowed his head. "I suspected. But suspicion is not proof. I was not going to let him do anything to you again, Harry, but I kept a close eye on him. I wanted to discover his motives. I had an inkling that he was working for Voldemort, but wanted to make sure. Besides, this year there was more to Hogwarts besides you, Harry. I'm afraid the reason Quirrell was here had nothing to do with you."
They watched him in confusion.
"That reason has been removed from Hogwarts, preferably for destruction. It was hidden on the third floor, if that makes things clearer for you."
Fred tilted his head. An object?
Hermione twisted her fingers nervously. "An object Professor Quirrell hoped to use to help - help You-Know-Who return to life?"
"Lord Voldemort, Hermione. Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing himself," Hermione seemed awe-struck at that piece of wisdom from the Headmaster, "and yes. The specifics of said object are irrelevant." Dumbledore rubbed his hands together. "Now, I think that was enough excitement for one year."
George looked at Hermione before back at the Headmaster. "Will you punish us, Professor?"
Dumbledore's eyes again glinted with amusement. "No George. I wish to reward you. You did the school a great service. 30 points each to you, twins, for ambition and courage, 30 points to you as well, Hermione, for thorough research, and you Harry - 50 points for extraordinary use of magic."
They were all speechless.
"Th-thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Harry finally managed to let out.
"One last thing, before you four go. You encountered the situation with bravery and wit, but I'm afraid that for the long term such haste actions weren't wise. I urge you, next time, to come to me, if such a grave situation rises again. As for now, I intend to give the rest of the school an alternate explanation -"
Fred's eyes widened. Just like Charlie told them!
"- Because most of them will have no use for the truth. It might even hurt them and cause damage. I forbid the four of you to tell the truth to anyone in the school. Chances are - this empty shell of that hideous man will forever be cast to the back, and no one in this generation will have to face him. So I wish not to trouble the school for nothing."
"But we'll get to keep the truth?" Fred made sure.
"As long as you keep it to yourselves, yes."
The twins gazed at each other, long and hard.
This was a deliberate lie, an attempt to hide the truth. But… they weren't left in the dark.
He saw George's eyes, wide but decisive. He knew what his twin thought, and he agreed.
They'll do as he says… For now.
"We'll keep it to ourselves," the twins then said together.
As if waiting for the more rebellious parts of their group to agree, Harry and Hermione nodded along.
"Very well," Dumbledore seemed content, "now you may go."
Susan
Susan Bones couldn't block the sight of those red, shiny eyes from her mind.
Quirrell with his mousy face, the loud noises, the beast - and then an evil head, staring right at her. Straight at her. And then she saw a vision.
White face, lean build and a wand pointed at a squirming, screaming girl, a tiny thing really -
my cousin! Her frightened mind identified.
And yes, she had the hazel-coloured hair of the Bones', and her face seemed familiar - Susan knew that face from the photos of her young cousin, Layla - the one that was murdered all those years ago by You-Know-Who himself. But the girl in the vision was very alive, and screeching - before a green light struck her body and she fell silent.
/
They didn't know, but she heard it all. All their hushed discussions. When Madam Pomfrey or someone else entered they went silent, but they didn't suspect that the sleeping girl on the other end of the room heard every word they said. She thought her slip-up when they mentioned… him, will make them realize she was onto them, but they weren't privy to what she saw when that creature stared at her, and without said vision she probably wouldn't have connected the dots from their hushed discussions.
Honestly, they were discreet. It was just that the few words she did hear, along with their older brother's warning told her all she needed to know. And what it told was rather bleak.
Filled with confusion and fear, she decided to actually get some sleep.
She had quite a decent first year in Hogwarts, she didn't want into all that… mess.
/
The three of them did disappear before she was discharged. She wondered whether or not they'll have their memories wiped, but she didn't ponder too hard on it either. At the end of the day, they were all eleven. Perhaps it truly wasn't for them to handle. Dumbledore probably thought of the good of everyone.
Susan went back to normalcy and discovered just how much everyone was upset with the discovery of that demon in Quirrell's neck.
"How can they not speak to us about it?!" Her friend Hanna Abbott demanded. "Are we to continue as normal, knowing that a new kind of demon no one in the magical world has heard of possessed our Professor?"
Was it a demon, though?
Susan blocked all thoughts she had on the subject, but she couldn't block the idea of that demon being her relatives' killer, You-Know-Who. Perhaps she should talk to Amelia about it.
Their Headmaster didn't leave them wondering for long. Professor Sprout told them that due to the worrying events, Headmaster Dumbledore wished to speak to each house about the events.
Susan expected said conversation, as a big part of her doubted her weird ideas.
Yes, she saw what she saw, and Harry Potter said the scar given to him by You-Know-Who hurt. Yes, the Weasley-twins' older brother gave them that rushed warning.
But what did her vision had to do with anything, really? Perhaps she was just reliving past trauma, perhaps that memory was just a traumatic memory that jumped into her mind once encountering such a dreadful situation.
Although it wasn't really her memory she relived… she wasn't there that night.
A big part of her hoped the Headmaster will clear up the matter. Although she did make sure to remind herself again and again that Headmaster Dumbledore killed Quirrell…
It did make sense, though. Quirrell was the reason that demon entered the castle. Killing him was without a doubt the right thing to do.
/
"Gather around, students," Professor Sprout ordered.
Susan walked forward slowly and sat on a black sofa next to Justin. Hanna and Ernie sat on the yellow carpet beneath them and leaned on their feet.
Their house was rather big, and Susan looked around her as the dozens of students took their seats on yellow and black sofas and gazed with anticipation at their Headmaster.
Professor Dumbledore had a friendly smile on his face that made Susan trust him immediately. He moved his long purple robes so he could take a seat next to Professor Sprout on a golden sofa next to the fire. A couple of surprised Six-Years allowed him some space there and stepped backward.
"Good afternoon, Hufflepuff House," he said calmly, "I am sure the event that occurred last week disrooted all of you, but I am here to explain. In case some of you haven't read the article, a rare new kind of humanoid has been discovered on Hogwarts grounds. The esteemed researcher, a former Hogwarts student, Charles Weasley, came all the way from Romania to track down that creature and define it. It was later caught in the Forbidden Forest, tamed, and a team of Romanian and English researchers is investigating it as we speak. Unfortunately, it has possessed our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, and it appears that once that creature leaves a host, its host dies. I am sorry to inform you that Quirinus Quirrell has passed away."
A tense silence followed this statement.
Then calmness spread on Dumbledore's face, and his voice was silky and soothing as he continued, "it was a clever humanoid, one we've never encountered so we didn't know how to identify the signs when we first hired Professor Quirrell."
Around Susan, students started to nod. Susan herself almost felt convinced, but then a thought, clear as a sun-ray popped into her mind - the creature didn't kill Quirrell upon leaving his body, Dumbledore killed Quirrell.
She sat up straighter.
She still trusted her Headmaster. Susan was a bright girl, she knew why the entire school panicking over the possibility of You-Know-Who returning was not a good thing.
But still, she knew the truth, and she held onto it with force.
/
She did wonder if the Gryffindor Quartet (that was their nickname outside of Gryffindor) managed to hold onto their memories.
But she needn't wonder for long.
They just finished Herbology class with the Gryffindors. The Quartet were their usual loud selves, the twins laughing loudly, throwing soil at each other and being a mess and that Granger girl raising her hand constantly and excitedly yelling answers.
The only quiet one was Harry Potter. He'd laugh at most of the twins' antics, but he was a rather calm boy.
By the end of it the four went out after the rest of the class, and Susan who was a bit busy staring at them followed them slowly, barely hearing Hanna next to her.
One of the twins turned around and caught her gaze, and then a wide smile spread on his face. "Oi! You're the bird that fainted with Harry!"
She was glad to see she wasn't the only one embarrassed as Harry Potter next to him reddened.
"I'll catch up," she told Hanna, who watched her suspiciously but nodded and moved along. Susan walked to them slowly.
"Fred!" Hermione Granger frowned, "you've been sharing a class with her this entire year! Her name is -"
"Susan Bones, I know," he immediately answered and Susan was surprised. They've never spoken a word to each other.
She was close to them now. "So that makes you Fred," she identified the twin that yelled to her, "and you're George."
George gave her a smile.
They were somewhat different, though. Fred had more… energy to him. His smile was bright, his eyes had more sparkle to them and he bounced on his feet and grinned at her.
George was calmer, standing between Hermione and Harry and watching the scene in amusement.
"I don't think we've ever spoken, though," Granger said in her formal, high voice, "I'm Hermione Granger."
Susan tried not to laugh. "I know. I know you four. You're The Quartet. Your name precedes you."
"Well, I'm not very well-known," Harry Potter joked, "you probably don't know me."
"Never heard of you," Susan laughed.
"Well Freddie, is there a reason you bothered the lovely Ms. Bones besides reminding her that she hit her head rather nastily against a table?" George nudged his brother's shoulder.
"Oh, yeah," and Fred took a step closer to her, "you know the truth."
Her heartbeat picked up as the other three watched on worriedly. "About what?"
"About Quirrell."
Susan paled, and his mates became angry in an instant.
"Fred!" Hermione yelped.
"We're not supposed to talk about it!" Harry seemed irritated.
"Arse," George smacked his brother on the head.
"What?!" Fred protested, "he told us not to tell others, he never said not to discuss it with those who already know!"
"How do you know she already knows?" Hermione hissed through clenched teeth.
Fred was still smiling, and Susan had found it adorable and annoying. His eyes focused on hers. "You do, don't you? I saw your face when Harry spoke about his head hurting. You understood exactly why. The only question is how, and what do you know."
Her heart was beating in her ears as her eyes moved from his smiling face to the large lawn around them and the tall, evergreen trees moving with the wind. "What did you four do?" She finally asked.
"Nuh-uh," Fred smirked, "first tell us what you know."
Susan looked around herself and made sure no one was listening. "When… when Quirrell's second head was exposed, it was in front of our table. And… and when I saw those eyes, I had a vision of a young girl, my cousin, being murdered by - by him. You-Know-Who. And then from all your discussions and from Harry's complaints of his scar -"
"You put the pieces together," Fred grinned, "clever girl."
She tried to ignore the compliment and look elsewhere, to Fred's horrified mates. None of them seemed to know why he did any of that.
"What about you?" She tried to direct her words to the other three, "what did you four do? Because you must have taken some part in this if your older brother was in trouble and if you four were called to Dumbledore's office."
Hermione cleared her throat nervously. "We've discovered it and… uncovered it."
"How?"
Harry shifted in place. "I vanished his turban."
"Vanished -" she repeated, "that's a complicated spell!"
"Believe me, I know," Harry rolled his eyes and they laughed.
"So… so you know?" Hermione seemed uncomfortable, "did you talk to anyone about it?"
"No," Susan shook her head, "but I intended to talk to my aunt about it. She is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Oh," George tilted his head, "Madam Bones. That makes sense."
She was surprised. "You've heard of her?"
"Our dad works in the ministry," Fred explained. "You probably shouldn't tell her, though, Dumbledore asked us not to spread the word of it."
"She is wise and I use her advice often," Susan said irritably.
"Speak to us about it, and maybe later you can tell her," Fred answered.
"That's not for you to decide."
"Ah, but it should be!" Fred grinned. His mates watched the exchange with amusement and annoyance, depending on the person.
"Do you four know more?" Susan leaned forward.
Fred's eyes gleamed. "Maybe."
"Then tell me!"
"Come to the alcove on our floor this evening at 7, and perhaps we'll tell you more," he smirked.
She frowned.
Hermione Granger elbowed the other twin, and George rolled his eyes. "Alright. Um, Fred, we have class. Come on."
"See you at 7," Fred winked at her before the four walked away and left her staring after them in confusion.
George
It was alright for his brother to fancy someone, but it didn't give him the right to break Dumbledore's orders bluntly.
But well… he wasn't as angry as Hermione was because… well, it was all rather amusing.
"But how did you know she knew?" He teased his twin for the tenth time, and Fred finally started to look annoyed.
"Because I just noticed it! Sod off, George, you're bugging me."
George laughed and poured the asphodel root powder he mashed into his pot.
"I just don't understand why you were willing to risk it all for… for someone we don't even know!" Hermione was still angry, and mostly (as George was able to identify) afraid. It made sense to him too; if Dumbledore told them not to do something, then to Hermione it was like apostasy to disobey him.
"The fact we don't know her means she's bad?" Fred raised an eyebrow at her.
"Well, why do you want to know her?" Harry asked, and he and George exchanged a grin.
Harry too thought Fred fancied her, and that amused George.
"Oh, sod off the lot of you!" Fred groaned, and looked truly irritated, "I have a good feeling about her, alright? I feel as if she can help us. Don't ask me how or why -" he stopped them before they could intervene, "I just… do. Now leave it be."
/
Susan Bones was even a bit early, crouching into the alcove with an uncertain gaze, and George had to admit that she seemed harmless enough. Not bad to look at as well, with a cute face, but George knew there was more to his brother than just chasing after birds. They were too young anyway to seriously consider them besides just acknowledging that some of them were cute.
"Hi," she said quietly and sat against a wall next to Hermione, "well… I'm here."
Hermione next to her seemed uncomfortable, and she let it out with irritation and huffs. He wanted to tell her to be nicer to the clearly timid girl, but she was too convinced that they were doing something wrong to ease up and be her normal self.
"We're glad you're here," Fred grinned and handed the Marauders map to Harry so that he'd continue to make sure no one else comes, and it was silently agreed that Fred would do most of the talking since it was Fred's idea for her to come at all; the rest of them didn't really know what he was after. "You were right with your hunch. It is -"
"What do you plan to do with the information?" Hermione crossed her arms and looked at Susan critically.
"I - nothing, for the moment. I'm not even sure what the information is."
"But before we tell you anything we must make sure you keep it to yourself. And that you realize how grave things are," Hermione huffed.
"I agree," Harry surprised them, but he seemed rather serious as well, "a lot is at stake."
They all turned to look at her, and George understood his mates. He understood his twin also, for over-trusting a girl he fancied, but Hermione wanted to listen to Dumbledore and Harry was a private person, not to mention, not so easily trusting. And with reason too.
Susan just looked insulted, moving her long braid away from her face and glaring at them, her eyes shining dangerously as if she was about to cry.
"You invited me here! Besides, I've been haunted by the image of You-Know-Who torturing and murdering my child cousin for the past week and a half, you think I don't know what's at stake? And the thought… the thought that he might have been here, that he might have been close to me…" and her green eyes misted with tears.
Hermione's eyes widened in regret. "Susan, I'm sorry!"
"Be sorry, 'Mione," Fred glared, "she's obviously in a lot of pain, you lot should be more sensitive," and he offered Susan a piece of fabric they kept there for magic practice.
"Thanks," she said, her voice muffled from the fabric.
Hermione was a changed person, her hand moving to stroke Susan's arm and her face frowned with worry. "How old was your cousin?"
Susan looked down at the dusty floor, her finger tracing circles on it. "Six."
"Six?!" They were all horrified.
"How could anyone harm a six-year-old?" Hermione now seemed close to tears herself.
"He is the vilest that ever lived, Hermione," Fred frowned, "and let's not forget he tried to kill Harry as a baby."
Harry always seemed disconnected and confused when crying was involved, and this time was no exception.
"I survived," he finally offered when they all turned to look at him.
Susan laughed tearfully. "You did."
"I'm sorry, Susan," Hermione said again, "really, I am."
"It's okay," she wiped her eyes, "I just… well, it's troubled me quite a lot these past few days. But I understand how scared you four must be. You said you… discovered it yourselves?"
They nodded.
She leaned her head against the wall. "I can't imagine one day witnessing one of my Professors having a second head and then having to live with that. No wonder you're all Gryffindors, you must be quite brave to handle that."
They all smiled at her.
"Well Susan, as the initiator of this… meeting," Fred patted her shoulder, "let me tell you what I had in mind. You seem quite perceptive, and if seeing You-Know-Who made you react that way, you're clearly connected to that issue as well."
"I - I guess," she looked down again. "I don't have that much to offer though, not a lot of information besides what I already told you. But I do want to ask my aunt about it, I think she can offer some vital advice and I trust her completely."
Fred shrugged. "If she is so wise and trustworthy I don't see why not."
"Can we do this?" Hermione's eyes widened, "can we tell others like that? He told us specifically not to!"
"Who did?" Susan tilted her head, and when none of them answered she went silent for a couple of seconds before her eyes filled with understanding. "Oh. Dumbledore did like your older brother said he would."
"See?" Fred grinned, "she guessed the whole thing by herself, I didn't tell her a thing!"
"Just like telling my aunt is my decision, and I would have done that even if none of you would have approached me," Susan said, "I put the pieces together myself. I couldn't have without the vision, that is why the rest of my house believed Dumbledore's demon explanation so readily, none of them even thought to connect it to You-Know-Who. Everyone thinks he's dead. I thought so too before I heard about Harry's scar."
George saw Hermione and Harry's worried gazes before he turned to Susan. "But your aunt is a senior in the Ministry. Maybe she must pass that kind of information on. Maybe they have protocols for that."
"No," Susan shook her head, "you lot don't understand, you don't know my aunt or how it's been since our relatives died. We're a small, close family. I only have one older brother, and my aunt doesn't have any children. Ever since this tragedy happened to us we've been treating each other as immediate family. My grandparents died, my aunt, uncle, cousins… Besides my brother and my parents she's all I have left. She's like a second mother to me. She'll never betray my faith."
They all looked at each other, unsure what to say.
"Look," she sat up straighter, "as I was saying, I was going to talk to my aunt no matter what. Now that we've talked… I could, maybe, tell you what she said."
They all looked at Harry, the decider in all You-Know-Who matters. He did defeat him once, after all.
Harry hesitated. "Maybe… maybe it could be good. To have another, impartial adult to weigh in on this. But… don't say too much either."
"I assure you," and she smiled, "she is trustworthy. Really."
"Alright!" Fred clapped his hands, "we've come to an agreement. Excellent! Now, we shall expect your latter in the Summer, I suppose?"
"Yes, I don't want to write her such things, I want it to be face to face."
"Right then," Fred clapped Harry's back, "Summer it is. I have a good feeling about this. I think she'll shed some light on the situation."
"She'll probably do that," Susan smiled proudly, "she's very bright, my auntie."
June, 1991
Hermione
Susan Bones was now friendly with them, and each time they spotted her around the castle she gave them a warm smile.
Fred seemed to fancy her, that was Hermione's explanation to his weird behaviour, and George didn't confirm or deny her assessment, but his amusement over the matter spoke volumes.
The boys were now overly busy with their final Quidditch game against Ravenclaw, and Hermione was overly busy with the final tests.
It was a Wednesday night, two days before their final Charms exam. Hermione sat in the common room, studying, and the boys were out practising.
She was almost done when nighttime came, and from her spot near the window she saw the castle she loved enveloped in darkness, dozens cubes of windows shining in yellow and the magical forest outside never resting, always so… alive.
The twins walked into the common room then, and while Fred went straight to their dorms to shower, George gazed at her, snickered and then sat next to her and watched her scribble hurriedly.
He was silent though, not bothering her, and she appreciated it as she finished a paragraph before finally addressing him.
She'd never admit it aloud, but despite being all dirty and smelly after every Quidditch practice, George always looked cute to her too, with his dark red hair all messy and with some dirt smudged on his face - today it was on his cheek. She smiled and wiped it with her finger.
He smiled back and peeked at her papers. "You do realize you're practically rewriting our Charms book."
"What?" She looked at her notes as well.
"Why do you need to copy it? You know it by heart already!"
"George! I am not copying it. I just highlighted what matters and wrote it to myself."
"You highlighted the entire book!" He laughed, "ease up, Hermione. You know you've barely been breathing this past few weeks? Honest. You always speak as if you're out of breath. I haven't seen you this nervous since Quirrell grew a second head."
"George!" She protested, but couldn't help a smile, "Merlin!"
"What Merlin, Hermione? No, you're thinking History of Magic, not Charms! We didn't study a word about Merlin in Charms. What good is all this copying if you don't even have that down?"
"George, if you don't stop this instance -"
"Alright, alright," and they both laughed and then fell into an easy silence.
She looked at the entrance of the common room. "Where's Harry?"
"Hagrid stopped him after practice, said he wanted to give him something."
"Oh, that's nice."
"Yeah. He has a birthday soon. Fred and I thought to ourselves what we should give him, and we realized what would be the greatest gift of all."
"What would that be?"
"Why, us," and he grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.
She laughed. "George Weasley, what are you on about?"
"We'll talk to Mum and Dad, tell them to bring him to ours and throw him a party. Why should he rot in that blasted house for the entire Summer?"
Hermione smiled and looked down. "That's really nice of you."
"You're coming too, yeah?"
She looked up in surprise. "Really?"
She didn't know so for sure, but she assumed she wasn't invited. A really daft thought of her, if she was honest, but it was left-over insecurities from Primary School. Back then, if she had mates it was only during school. Out of it, she was never invited.
George seemed as if the thought of not inviting her never even crossed his mind, and it warmed her heart. "'Course. Who would we invite, Filch?"
"You should have told me that beforehand, Forge!" Fred jumped down the stairs, showered and easily inserting himself into the conversation, magically knowing what they talked about, too, "I already asked the old git!"
"Bloody hell, Gred!" George grinned. "Is he at least bringing Harry a present?"
"He promised to give Harry a guided tour to his student-torturing basement, he said it's a once in a lifetime experience!"
"Life-changing experience -"
"Life-ending experience!" And they high-fived each other.
"Merlin's beard, George, go shower, you stink!" Fred then laughed.
George frowned but Fred was saved from his likely nasty answer as in that moment Harry entered the common room, still in his Quidditch uniform as well and holding a large book.
"Hermione," Fred whispered before Harry neared them, "don't tell, yeah? It's a surprise party."
She nodded with a smile as Harry approached them, watching the book he held with wonder. Now that Harry was close Hermione could see that it was a photo album.
Fred stood straighter. "What do you got there mate?"
Harry sat next to them, placing the album next to Hermione's notes. He seemed shocked. "Hagrid gave it to me. Said he wanted me to have it as soon as possible. It's… it's…"
"It's your parents!" George snatched it, watching the picture on the cover closely.
"Yeah," Harry nodded weakly.
On the cover of the leather-bound, large album, Hermione saw a picture of a handsome man with glasses and black hair, just as Harry's, along with a thin, beautiful red-headed girl dressed in a large coat and a dress. They were in the middle of the street, and the man clearly twirled her without her expecting so, and so she danced with him, surprised and laughing.
"Oh, Harry…" Hermione sighed, watching his mum, "she was so beautiful."
"Hey, and a redhead!" Fred grinned, "congratulations, Harry! You're part Weasley, we're the only redheads in Britain."
"Welcome to the family," George clapped his back and Harry calmed down some. But his eyes were still filled with disbelief.
Even the twins realized Harry's trepidation. George returned the book to the table and watched Harry with a question in his eyes.
Harry shrugged. "You can open it."
Fred did so, gently, and they watched the pictures silently.
The first picture was of Harry's dad as a baby, then a small boy. Harry touched his dad's grinning boyish face and then watched his mates in confusion.
Then a picture of his mum as a little girl, slightly older than them. She was wearing a Gryffindor uniform and smiling into the camera, before suddenly erupting into laughter.
Harry seemed more disconnected than ever. Something in the pit of Hermione's stomach told her that this emptiness in his green, wide eyes could just as easily turn into emotions, and flooding ones.
She turned to George. "Maybe we shouldn't… maybe we should leave it to Harry…"
George nodded absently, but then Fred yelped in surprise. "Oi! Your dad had a Quartet of his own!"
"What?" They all looked down to glance at it, and watched four boys grinning into a camera, one of them messing another's hair and Harry's dad raising his fist up in the air.
"They seem like quite the group," Hermione smiled softly to Harry.
"Yeah," he gulped, pulling the album to him, "sorry, I… I want to go shower."
"Harry," and George put his hand on his shoulder and looked long and deep into his eyes.
Hermione was suddenly nervous he'd say something that would make Harry break down.
"Harry… race you to it?"
The fear in her stomach evaporated.
Harry tilted his head. "What?"
George rolled his eyes dramatically. "Race you to the shower. Did you think I'll just let you shower before me? I was here first."
Fred laughed and then jumped up to his feet to launch the race. "Are you lads ready?" George and Harry stood up, Harry still holding his album but smiling now.
"Ready, set, go!"
And the two boys ran forward and jumped the stairs, and for once Hermione didn't feel the need to scold them for running up the stairs because… well, they were her boys.
Her boys. They took Hermione Granger, the friendless nerd, and turned her into a part of The Quartet.
Fred winked at her. "Don't come empty-handed to the party, yeah? Bring a gift."
"Of course," she laughed and watched him follow Harry and George up the stairs.
A/N
This settles the Quartet's first year :)
What you saw in this chapter was Dumbledore losing his cool over losing control of the situation. Sort of explains why he later tries to bring them back to his side (and by extension, back under his control). But given how rebellious some parts of the Quartet are, that might not be so easy. This story is not going to bash Dumbledore, but it will explore how I believe he'll act given these new circumstances.
I finally have the entire story planned out, no holes and no anything.
I do believe this chapter hinted at some things I plan to do, so it should tell you a bit about what's to come (quite a lot, really). I'm so excited.
Please, please let me know in any way you choose (whether it's a review, a follow or a favourite) how you feel about the story, as I have no other way of knowing. And it takes a lot of me to stop my life and my none-fanfiction writing to write this story. But it is all worth it if you all like it, so please share with me if you do.
moonl337 - Thank you so much for such an extensive review! I was very flattered and I'm glad you're enjoying the story :)
Haphne Emeraldplains - I'm so glad to hear! I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter.
FattaEld - Thank you for reviewing again, I enjoy your reviews very much :)
magicalalice - Well, here you go! I hope you liked this chapter as well!
AlphaFlash - I'm sorry, I haven't decided yet... but he will have one for sure.