Disclaimer: HP Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling.
24th May 2021, huh. One year has passed since the birth of this fic…and yet I feel like I have gained no wisdom in the past 365 days.
I truly can't believe I'm still going with this fanfiction. (Especially if you consider than I have 42 uncompleted and unposted fanfictions I have started that only have like 5 chapters written).
If this is chapter 25, then the past year the average is posting a chapter almost every two weeks. I think that's pretty decent.
I think it's absolutely crazy that this has 255 followers and 185 favourites. Completely mad. Like just…wow. So thank you to all of you readers, you have made my year.
Chapter 25
Fred and George were giving a light show in the Great Hall with the small fireworks they had designed and developed. Dinner wasn't for a couple more hours, so the hall was mostly empty, although as soon as news reached the common rooms that the Weasley twins were pulling something on the ground floor, swarms of spectators arrived to see the show.
The twins in question stood on the Hufflepuff table while the firecrackers, sparklers and Catherine wheels exploded around them, filling the hall with a thin smoke that was constantly changing colours (thanks to a useful colour-changing charm George had found that worked on gases).
To the spectators, the twins looked to be having just as much fun as everyone else. But standing in the middle of it all, with identical grins of mischief and excitement, they were documenting every detail to memory, so when they went back to the dormitory they could redesign each firework with improvements. They had noticed the silver-winged firecrackers took three seconds after activation to explode, and it would be back to the drawing board to decide if they wanted to keep it like that, or change the timings. It was supposed to explode immediately, but they now realised how dangerous and distracting that would be.
All of their fireworks were made to be unharmful, so they had put many safety enchantments on them. They weren't truly fireworks in the muggle sense. If they were touched, it wouldn't do anything harmful – that was if they got the spell work right. The fireworks were an explosion of magic rather than an explosion of fire, which made them more malleable, as well as harmless.
Fred wanted them to last longer. They were silver-winged for a reason, allowing them to fly in any direction and explode there. It would give them more time to find a position. He thought the exploding, red firecrackers were perfect. They exploded instantly after contact, so had taken to throwing two at once to the same place in the air (as a beater he could aim quite well) and letting them explode against each other.
In the crowd, Lee Jordan was also scribbling notes onto a piece of parchment. He was finding it difficult to see the firework display through the multi-coloured smoke, especially when it turned the darker colours, and already had plans to suggest to his friends that they produce a smoke-free-bubble for sale, so viewers could stay protectively in clean air (not that the audience was complaining).
Most people were cheering or clapping. Even the Slytherins skulking at the back (exiled by the other houses for their reputation) seemed to be enjoying the spectacle. And two Hufflepuffs were sitting at the Gryffindor table adding more to the show by playing exploding snap rather badly (there were lots of small explosions to contribute to the main picture).
All in all, they were being rather loud, so it was no surprise when Professor McGonagall strode into the hall, appearing to shout something that was lost in a loud bang. She proceeded to banish the offending firework to be heard over the raucous.
Lee surreptitiously scribbled on his parchment that they should make the fireworks immune to banishment charms.
"Messrs Weasleys" McGonagall called, "You'd better come with me" The thin setting of her lips made the entire hall go silent as Fred and George jumped down off the table, still grinning with each other despite the detentions they would probably serve for setting off fireworks inside the school building.
They were surprised when instead of being led in a direct route to her office, or to the Headmaster's office, McGonagall strode down the corridor. They kept pace with her none-the-less, shooting each other worried looks. If they were being taken to Filch's office it would not be a fun end to the day for them.
Their concern increased when they stopped outside the medical wing. McGonagall looked at them pityingly before opening the door and allowing them to walk inside.
The room seemed just as it normally would, with patients and visitors scattered around sparsely. A younger version of Colin Creevey was sitting next to the boy's bed, stroking a new camera that had evidently been bought for the petrified muggleborn. His parents stood on the other side of Colin's bedside.
On the other side of the room, two Hufflepuff girls were changing the dead flowers in the vase for new ones on Justin Finch-Fletchley's bedside table.
The oddest view, was the black, smoking arm of Nearly-Headless-Nick that was sticking through the curtain. As they watched, the Bloody Baron drifted through the curtain after visiting his fallen ghost comrade and glided through the wall. Creevey's parents kept on sending odd looks to what could be seen of the ghost – being muggles, this must have been completely mind-blowing to them. As Abbott and Bones walked past, they picked up a charmed handheld fan and gently blew Nick out of sight again before they left the wing.
It took the twins a moment to notice what was different there than yesterday, when they had come in after receiving mild burns from the fireworks before they were made completely safe. At the end of the room, there was a huddle of Ravenclaws around the bed. Just in front of them was a sight that froze both of their blood for a second. Harry, Ron and Hermione were crowded around a very familiar person, who had been frozen in a rather odd position. Her platinum hair was unmistakable.
"Izzy" Fred breathed, and they both moved quickly towards her.
"What happened?" George asked the golden trio once he was standing next to them, looking down at their petrified friend. Her right arm was held in front of her as if she was holding something at the time, and her left arm was held out at an awkwardly bent angle. He wondered if she could be uncomfortable while she was petrified. Her winged key that she had kept from first year was buzzing above her head. She had adopted it as more of a pet, though all it ever did was hang around her at odd parts of the day. Amusingly, she followed the guide lines about not having it with her in class, and it was only on an occasional Sunday when she brought it out of her dormitory to take it for a walk around the grounds. George tried to ignore it, it was sort of depressing to see it so loyal to remain with its petrified owner.
Unlike all the other students who'd been brought in petrified, the expression on her face wasn't one of shock or fear, she appeared to be mildly irritated, if the slight dip of her eyebrows was any indication, her eyes also looked as though she was about to roll them.
On the bed next to hers, was someone they didn't recognise. He was wearing Ravenclaw robes and had reasonably long, dark hair. Unluckily for him, it was difficult to get him to lie down, he was slightly bent over as if he was peering into something when it had happened.
McGonagall, who had followed more slowly behind them, answered the question that had been asked, "They were found together on a fourth floor corridor"
Madam Pomfrey, who had been observing until now, stepped forward holding the mirror. Both the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws looked at it in confusion until she said, "Izzy was holding this in her hand" She held it forward. Fred looked down at the solid girl, who's position was now fairly explanatory, "Does it mean anything to you?" She looked at the Ravenclaws as well. Everyone shook their heads numbly.
At that moment, Professor Dumbledore entered the hospital wing, heading straight for the crowd at the back.
"Albus" Madam Pomfrey greeted, pulling out an envelope, "This was found in Izzy's pocket" She explained, holding it out to him, "It's addressed to you"
Dumbledore took it rather slowly and the students and present teachers watched in anticipation and he turned it over to break the wax seal at the back, before pulling out the letter. He chuckled softly and pushed it into his own pocket.
"Anything important?" McGonagall prompted.
"She knew she was going to be petrified, didn't she?" Ron interrupted whatever Dumbledore would have said.
"Well Ron" said Harry in a soft voice. He was still in shock from finding out his friend had been petrified, "I guess this disproves your theory that Izzy is the Heir of Slytherin"
"What?" George yelped, completely thrown that anyone would ever consider her to be an evil descendant of Salazar Slytherin.
"You thought Izzy…our Izzy…was the heir of Slytherin?" said Fred.
"It was just a theory" Hermione shrugged, speaking quietly.
A startling cold voice interrupted from across the room as well, "I had also theorised that Deverill could have been the Heir of Slytherin. I was speaking to her only a couple of minutes before she was attacked about that very topic" said Snape. "There's just something off about her" He continued, his eyes flicking towards the Headmaster who had told him repeatedly to leave the girl alone, which was in itself, suspicious. Dumbledore had directly told him to keep an eye on Deverill last year, and then had suddenly changed his mind without giving a reason.
"Why were Michael and Deverill attacked anyway?" One of the Ravenclaws said, "The Heir is going after Muggleborns, and Michael's a halfblood. I don't know about Deverill, but our friend definitely wasn't on the hit-list"
Fred swallowed, "Izzy was a member of Marauders 2.0" He admitted.
"I had assumed as much" Dumbledore nodded, while the others shared confused and startled looks. Harry blinked sadly down at his friend. When the Marauders had first formed it was him they had been protecting. Trying to stop people from blaming him for everything. And Izzy had paid the price for trying to help him.
"Why did you think Izzy was the Heir of Slytherin?" George picked up, it was still making no sense to him.
"You're telling me you never feel like she's lying to you" said Ron.
"Well she keeps a lot to herself" George shrugged, "But it's never anything as serious as being the Heir of Slytherin!"
"So I take it she never lied to you about being psychic" Ron crossed his arms, while Hermione squirmed slightly, "She told she was an actual Seer then?"
"What?!" shouted Fred, George, McGonagall, Snape, Pomfrey and one of the Ravenclaws.
Hermione rubbed her arm anxiously before saying, "She keeps a notebook under her pillow with things that are going to happen. Next year doesn't look good"
Dumbledore looked ready to curse. "She keeps a notebook under her pillow! Remind me to have words with her about that"
"But that's not how it works" A Ravenclaw said, "Seers don't remember their prophecies"
Dumbledore rubbed his temple. He had lied enough times in the past, but he rarely did so to protect a student he barely knew anything about. "Izzy is not a Seer. She has borderline abilities, which make her partly psychic. It was my idea for her to write in her notebook things that she thinks could possibly happen" He turned to McGonagall. "She spends so much time in my office because I'm trying to help her develop her abilities. I told her to keep the diary somewhere safe" His eyes flicked over the Weasley twins for a second, knowing that they could piece enough together to know he wasn't telling the truth. George seemed to be frowning at something.
"What were you doing in the Slytherin Girls' dormitory?" Snape asked the golden trio. That was excellent question, Dumbledore thought, and it perfectly moved the conversation away from his lie. McGonagall as well, seemed determined to find out the answer.
Hermione hesitated, before answering. "Izzy invited me up…" She began.
"And accidentally let you read her diary" Fred finished.
"Which was hidden under her pillow" added George.
"No" defended Hermione, though it was obvious from her face that she was still lying. "She went to get some food and left me up there"
"So you read her diary without her knowing" George accused.
"It wasn't her fault" said Ron, "We were trying to find out if she was the Heir of Slytherin"
"By ignoring your friend's right to privacy?" McGonagall was looking thunderous. Not only had they been out of bounds, but they had so rudely betrayed their friend. "I think a week's detention will be acceptable for that. And an apology to Miss Deverill when she recovers" They nodded forlornly.
"Albus" Flitwick squeaked, leading a much taller man than him into the hospital wing. "Mr Corner is here" The man who didn't look much like Michael headed straight over to his son's bedside. Pomfrey headed over to tell him about his son's condition.
"Are Izzy's parents coming?" Fred asked, unashamedly looking forward to meeting them. Izzy was so secretive about her home life, but surely her parents could shed some light on the mystery.
Dumbledore hesitated, "Her mother is very sick currently" He used the excuse Izzy had told him was her main explanation for anything relating to family. "Her father is looking after her and it is inadvisable for him to leave her side"
"But surely he would for his daughter" George frowned.
Dumbledore held up a hand to stop him from continuing, "His daughter is in a stable condition and will wake when the restorative draught is ready. Izzy's mother's condition fluctuates often. It can get very bad or she can stage a temporary, sudden recovery. Her mother is conscious of her surroundings, but Izzy is not aware of anything that happens around her. So it is best if he remains at home where he is needed"
"But have you owled him?" Fred checked, "Surely he's want to check on his daughter, even if it was only for a minute"
"Unlikely" Ron coughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" glared George.
Harry sighed, "We think Izzy is abused at home"
"That is a very serious accusation" said Professor McGonagall, but internally her mind was racing. If it was true they would have to do something, but could they trust the words of the three who had broken into Deverill's dormitory and read her diary. If she had written something in there, then it would be almost impossible to dispute. But surely, they would have come forward earlier if they had concrete evidence.
"What makes you think that?" Dumbledore asked calmly, fully aware it wasn't possible, as Izzy had no family at this point in time.
"Well" Harry begun, "She's probably been neglected or distant from her family since her sister died, she doesn't celebrate Christmas. She doesn't talk about her family. She spent the entire summer hiding at the Burrow except for the last week-"
"Where did she go for the last week?" Dumbledore interrupted, frowning.
"Home" Harry shrugged.
Still frowning, the Headmaster asked, "Did she Floo? Where exactly did she go?"
"We don't know the location" Ron muttered, looking up as he explained, "It was protected under the Fidelius Charm"
"The Fidelius Charm?" repeated McGonagall, and all the present Weasleys plus Harry nodded.
On the other hand, Dumbledore was deep in thought. Izzy had nowhere else to go. He had thought she had stayed at the Burrow for the whole holidays, but apparently she had left for some reason without telling him. She had gone under the Fidelius Charm, and couldn't have set it up herself, and wouldn't have had the time while at school or at the Burrow, therefore she would most likely have been staying in one of the Order of the Pheonix's safe house. It would have been used in her time, but if it was still under the Fidelius Charm here it must have been a safe house during the war.
Meanwhile, Fred was speaking, "You've decided that Izzy is abused at home because of that? Loads of families don't celebrate Christmas. She is distant from her family and doesn't talk about them because it reminds her of her sister who's dead and her mum who sick. She doesn't like being at home in case her psychic abilities sense than her mum is about to die, because she doesn't want that knowledge or the psychic feeling she gets with her intuition, which is why she stayed so long at the Burrow, and was really weird about returning home. Is that all you've based this on?"
That was another interesting fact Dumbledore had learned in the past couple of minutes. Izzy had a sister who had died. That was probably correct but would happen in the future. He wondered if it was part of her master plan to save her sister, if that was possible.
"No, actually" said Harry, "I was going to continue. Izzy's house elf is abused at home, therefore is it such a far stretch that she is too?"
"Izzy has a house elf?" Dumbledore asked before he could stop himself. That was too bizarre. He had given Izzy an allowance given that she had nothing in the past with her, but it was definitely not enough to buy a house elf. Therefore her family house elf from the future must still be bonded to her if she was part of their family line. Though he would have words with her about the dangers of that if her family found out that she existed. Questions would be asked that they didn't want to answer, and they certainly didn't want to start any rumours that would draw the attention of Voldemort and his followers.
Dumbledore shook his head to clear it, but stopped when another voice joined the conversation. "What was my son doing when he was petrified?" Mr Corner asked, having approached Izzy's bed quietly. The other Ravenclaws had the guilty expressions of those who had overheard the conversation, and on the other side of the room, the Creevey's were looking so intently away from the main crowd that it was obvious even they had heard everything.
It was McGonagall who answered the man, "Mr Goldstein tells us he was looking for Deverill as he wanted to borrow something. He thinks it was a book" She glanced at Goldstein for confirmation, "Evidently, he found her"
"Izzy left my office about ten minutes before she was petrified" said Dumbledore.
"Izzy was in your office" Fred asked, and when the Headmaster looked over to him he had a strange expression.
George had picked up on it to, as he and Fred shared a long look. "Professor Dumbledore, can we have a quick word in private?"
Dumbledore frowned at them, not knowing what this could be about, but led them to the corner of the room anyway, drawing a privacy curtain around them and casting a silencing charm. Once he was sure they were secure, he nodded at them to say what they wanted.
"It's just-"
"-Professor…is it really you?"
"Or is it Izzy?"
"Polyjuiced as Dumbledore"
"While the actual Professor Dumbledore is polyjuiced as Izzy"
"And petrified"
"In the bed across the room"
"Because if it is you, Izzy"
"You can tell us"
"We'll help you"
"Yeah, you'll need help running the school"
"And we can help"
"Step one"
"Convince everyone you are Professor Dumbledore"
Dumbledore sighed, "I am Professor Dumbledore"
"Aw, come on, Izzy, you can tell us"
"You'll need help"
"I'm not Izzy" The Headmaster repeated, wearily.
"Prove it. Tell us something only Izzy would know"
"I can't tell you that" The headmaster said slowly, "Because, as I am not Izzy, I wouldn't be able to tell you something that only she would know"
"Then tell us something only Professor Dumbledore would know"
Dumbledore shook his head at them in mild amusement, before cancelling the silencing charm and strolling back to the crowd around the petrified students. There was nothing he could say that would prove he was who he was. Anything they knew about him, was things any student would know, impersonal things like how he defeated Grindlewald. Fred and George seemed to take that as validation that he was in fact Izzy in Polyjuice, so he guessed he would let them have their excitement if there was nothing he could do to convince them otherwise.
Snape had been pondering silently in the corner, but he suddenly cast a tempus charm and turned to the Headmaster, "We are expected at dinner presently" He stated. Dumbledore nodded and Promfrey started ushering the students out. It wouldn't be good for their worry if they didn't eat anything.
They had just about made it to the door, when they opened at Zabini and Nott came into the infirmary. Nott was carrying the plant with swaying leaves, Hermione noted. She hadn't actually had time to research what sort of plant that was. She was busy dealing with all her school work and trying to persuade Harry and Ron to do their own homework and revision instead of rushing it at the last minute or asking to copy hers.
"Oh" Zabini said, "Hi" with the air of someone who had just slithered into a room full of people glaring at them. The Gryffindors didn't know what to think of two Slytherins marching into the infirmary when there would be no one they should be visiting.
"What are you doing with that?" George asked, staring at the plant.
"We got Greengrass to fetch it from the girls' dorm" Zabini explained.
"We thought it could go on Izzy's nightstand while she's down here and her visitors could remember to water it everyday" said Nott.
George stepped forward and snatched it out of the Slytherin's hands before retreating back to Izzy's bed and placing it on her nightstand next to the jug of water and glass which was next to every bed, but wouldn't be used by the petrified students. It really was a depressing scene.
Dumbledore sat in the centre of the staff table, looking out over the student's gloomy expressions before him. The news that there had been two more petrifications had spread through the school like a wildfire. Usually, meals involved three of the houses seeming nervous, and the Slytherins eating their food smugly. But it had just occurred to them that no one was safe. The Heir of Slytherin was even targeting Slytherin House. And it was also well known that neither of the petrified victims were Muggleborns. The halfbloods were now starting to panic as well, while the purebloods still seemed to view themselves as safe, but were anxious that more of their friends were in danger.
The Headmaster knew he had to reassure his students, but he himself was worried. Izzy had gone about changing the past, and in the last timeline, no one had died, but this time someone could die.
There was something about the mirror as well. She was holding a mirror but for what purpose. He wished he had arrived at the scene first rather than McGonagall. Of course, he could view her memory of finding the two petrified students, but he didn't want her to be suspicious of it at all. Izzy still needed to stay under the radar.
In his pocket was the letter Izzy had left to him. She really had prepared for all eventualities.
Relax. I've set everything back on track (I believe), though if I'm dead rather than petrified can you punch the Heir in the face for me? Thanks.
Also keep working on freeing Sirius (by the end of the year). If you can't, punch Fudge in the face for me. Thanks
He had to hope Izzy was correct in thinking she had fixed any mistakes she had made, and changed her history so the bad things she had come back to tweak weren't going to happen (if anything happened this year).
The restorative draught wouldn't be ready for many more months, but when it did, he would be having words with her about keeping things to herself. She had already proven how dangerous it was for only her to know what had to be changed. Izzy needed to tell him all of her plans so if something happened to her again, he could finish her job. Dumbledore already knew, however, that it would be difficult to convince the Slytherin second year to open up to him.
When, finally, the desserts had been cleared away by the house elves, most of which had been uneaten as the students just pushed the puddings around on their plates, Dumbledore stood up to give a short speech. Everyone turned to look at him with rather defeated expressions, including a couple of the professors. The dismal mood was spreading to everyone – even the ghosts and house elves were looking bleak.
"You have all heard that two more students have been petrified" said Dumbledore, loudly amplifying his voice around the room. Normally there were a couple of troublesome students still talking at the back of the hall, but that evening there was silence. "Deverill was targeted because she was a member of Marauders 2.0. I implore the other members to stop antagonising the Slytherin Heir. Your Professors and I are dealing with the problem and you are only directing the Heir's wrath onto you. You are already making innocent bystanders into victims. Corner was only targeted because he was with Deverill at the time. As you now know, all four houses have been targeted, so it is important that we unite together against this threat, but without putting ourselves at risk. I hope we see the end of Marauders 2.0"
He sat back down, unsure of whether his words had been any sort of comfort to any of them. The Marauders group had definitely helped to lighten their spirits for a short while, but he wouldn't be responsible for allowing it to continue.
Despite his warning, the Marauders made another showing at breakfast the next morning. Their defiant message simply stated.
BETTER TO TARGET US THAN THE MUGGLEBORNS
Though they had done it in more style. His speech about uniting the Hogwarts houses had been noticed by them, so they had subtly colour coded the message, separating it into red, green, yellow and blue coloured foods, mixed together. And so the light-hearted pranks continued: house tables got swapped around in the Great Hall, a tree had been planted outside the medical wing (and the next day the leaves had been charmed house colours).
Dumbledore hoped that it had just been chance the Heir had found out Izzy was a member of the Marauders, and that the rest of the well-intentioned group weren't going to be brought down one-by-one.
Hope you enjoyed. Sorry it was another short one.
As always, I love hearing your thoughts in reviews, and any mistakes I have made (I am in the middle of trying to do some corrections, but locating the mistakes is often a conundrum on my account :/).