It's All On Us
Chapter 5: Ad Captandum Vulgus
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor do I intend to gain any profit from this fanfiction.
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Nov. 9th, 1992
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Attack at Hogwarts!The Boy-Who-Lived Barely Survives!!ByRita SkeeterLate Saturday night, Harry Potter was lying in the hospital ward of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, recovering from two severely broken legs he'd received during a heroic dive for the Golden Snitch in Saturday's quidditch game. He was deep asleep when he heard a terrifying sound outside: someone was battering the door to the ward in an effort to enter and, presumably, harm the youngest seeker in a century.Fortunately, Harry seems to have a penchant for mischief. He reportedly had already snuck out of the hospital ward, and was discovered resting comfortably in the Gryffindor common room.The young Gryffindor was most fortunate as it is this reporter's sad duty to report the loss of a Hogwarts institution, Mrs. Norris. The feline companion of Argus Filch had served Hogwarts faithfully for almost 25 years.(For more on Argus Filch and Mrs. Norris, see page 4)This reporter is pleased to announce that the Daily Prophet will be publishing an exclusive interview with Harry Potter next week, an interview which will be conducted by yours truly.(For more on Harry Potter, see page 2)
"Bloody fuck." Ron growled, tossing the paper aside as he sipped his pumpkin juice.
"Fucking Colin." Harry grumbled, eyeing the picture of him and Ron on the front page. The two were still sitting on the bed, but their arms were folded and they were glaring at the camera.
"Least they bought that shite about you sneaking out of there." Ron muttered.
They were currently attending breakfast that Monday morning and reading the recently delivered Prophet. Judging by the number of eyes on him, Harry assumed everyone else was doing the same thing.
"I suppose Colin was good enough to wait a day before sending his picture in." Harry grumbled, trying to be fair to the first year.
The boys had stayed in the common room all night, refusing to go to bed while that thing was out there. Eventually, around six in the morning, the portrait opened to reveal a disturbed Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore.
They'd asked what had happened and why Madam Pomfrey found the hospital ward was in such a state, and Harry told as much of the truth as he could (conveniently leaving out Ron and Colin's part in it, as well as Dobby's). He'd quickly asked how Hermione was, and they confirmed that no harm had come to her. They suspected as much, considering her petrified state, but were still quite relieved to hear it.
Unfortunately, they learned of the loss of Mrs. Norris from the two professors. She'd been thoroughly mutilated and a large part of her was still unaccounted for, leading many to consider that it might be the beginning of some dark ritual.
Filch was beside himself, as he had gone to bed shortly after Ron and Colin had escaped him and had been unaware of Mrs. Norris's death until that morning. He'd taken a sabbatical by that afternoon and was currently rumored to be in Hogsmeade, drinking his sorrows away.
"Besides," Harry glanced up at the teacher's table as he spoke, "I doubt they believed me."
Ron glanced up at them, finding Dumbledore and McGonagall staring down at them. The two boys quickly diverted their gaze and ended their meal.
They were stopped just outside the doorway by Fred and George Weasley, each of whom were bearing uncharacteristically serious faces.
"You two haven't been-" Fred (Or maybe George?, Harry wondered) began.
"-Eating like you should." George (Fred?) finished.
"What, are you Mum now?" Ron sniped.
"Be glad it's us, Ronnikins-"
"-Cause Mum wouldn't be as nice as we are."
"Especially if she heard dear Harrikins-"
"Was eating even less than he normally does."
Harry and Ron cringed at that, each imagining just how upset Mrs. Weasley would be if she heard that. It would make the howler Ron got earlier that year look like a get-well card.
"Go." Fred (George) pointed back at the table.
"Eat." George (Fred) pointed as well.
The boys grumbled, but did as they were told.
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That evening, Harry and Ron were gathered in the library. They'd selected a secluded area for them to do their research in, one of the desks in the corner behind the shelves, and had all their research collected on the table. They had also left a remembrall out, just in case they got so wrapped up in their investigation they forgot to do their homework.
Again.
"So, what do we know?" Ron asked.
"The Chamber has been opened before," Harry counted off, "I think we can safely say Hagrid is innocent. That bloke Riddle turned him in. The 'heir' is supposed to be the actual Heir of Slytherin. There is definitely some kind of monster inside, and I could hear it talking but you and Colin couldn't."
Ron blinked at that, confused. They'd done this a few times, going through the information they'd accumulated throughout their investigation. It was a good start, but there were more pieces they needed to fill in.
On a piece of paper were things they needed to know and the identity of the heir was on top. It was respectively followed by the location of the Chamber, the creature inside and spells to defeat both the heir and the creature.
They were currently focusing on who the heir might be. They had considered the location of the Chamber, but it was difficult to even guess when the amount of secret passages were considered. The creature was a subject they were tabling for the moment, as there were literally dozens of magical creatures that could petrify someone.
Hence, their discussion on the heir.
"We need to do some research on this Riddle bloke." Harry determined, "He's the only other person we know of from that time."
Ron shook his head, "Just because he turned Hagrid in doesn't make him the 'heir'. He was probably just like Percy, some eager bootlicker wanting to score some points. Besides, mate, Riddle would be Hagrid's age. I think we'd notice a bloke that old hanging around here."
Harry frowned, almost giving into his point, but the memory of red eyes staring at him through a mirror hit him again.
"Would we? We're dealing with dark magic, Ron. Last year, bloody Voldemort," he ignored Ron's wince at the name, "Was attached to Quirrel's head. I'm sure there must be other ways of disguising yourself. For all we know, he could be a student here. Or Lockhart. "
Before Ron could argue back, the remembrall turned red, reminding them to get to their homework.
Ron sighed and picked up their paper, "Alright, mate. How about you research magical ways to disguise yourself and I look into Tom Riddle."
The two fistbumped and got to work, unaware of the pair of brown eyes watching them.
XXX
On Thursday, Harry was held back after transfiguration so that Professor McGonagall could tell him that a Prophet reporter would be visiting tomorrow for lunch.
"I expect you to represent your house and your school to the best of your abilities, Mr. Potter." McGonagall warned, eliciting a promise to do just that.
Harry ate a quick dinner (underneath the watchful eyes of the twins) before excusing himself to go to the library. He found Ron at what had rapidly become known as 'their table', only to find that he wasn't alone.
He tried really hard to not look annoyed by Colin's presence, he really did, but he could tell the first year knew he was. Colin frowned lightly, but simply looked away from him to stare at the table.
"Why is Colin here?" Harry asked.
"He brought me the other picture he'd taken that night," Ron explained, "As kind of a peace offering. I was about to bin it when I remembered you were researching magical ways you could disguise yourself."
Harry blinked, wondering what he meant. He glanced down at the picture in question, not finding anything interesting in it. It was the one in the common room, and it had him, Ron and…
Dobby.
"Oh." Harry breathed.
"Yep." Ron smiled grimly, "Think there's a spell or something we can use to look like him?"
"Definitely," Harry answered, "But I don't think we can pull it off ourselves. We're going to need help."
"Can I help?" Colin asked, losing a bit of his shyness.
Harry and Ron shared a look before Harry said, "Maybe. What do you know?"
"I've been taking pictures since I was five," Colin answered, "I know how to do it both the muggle way and the magical way. There's a lot of potions work involved. I was actually really looking forward to potions, till I met Professor Snape."
"You're in," Harry said, "We could use someone interested in potions."
"Have you got one in mind, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Not yet, but I think we can go to someone else for help with that."
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That evening, Harry and Ron approached Fred and George Weasley. They were in the common room, testing another prank item on themselves but stopped when they approached.
"Well, if it isn't Harrikins-" George (Fred, maybe) spoke.
"And Ronnikins!" Fred (George?) finished.
"And they're not alone!"
"They brought an ickle firstie, too."
"Whatever can we-"
"Do for you?"
"We need your help," Harry said, "To plan a prank."
The twins paused before slowly grinned.
"Harry!"
"Friend!"
"Brother!"
"Compatriot!"
"It's about bloody time."
"So, who is it?"
Harry smirked, "Malfoy."
XXX
Nov. 10th, 1992
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The six of them had spent the remainder of the night holed up in the common room, hashing out an idea of what they wanted to do. So far, they hadn't come up with a solid plan yet, but they were well on their way.
The next day, Professor McGonagall met him just outside of the Great Hall at lunch.
"Ms. Skeeter," McGonagall's tone showed just how little she thought of the reporter, "Is waiting in an empty classroom. I will lead you to her."
Harry nodded and was about to accompany her when an errant thought hit him, "Professor...could I have Ron join me?"
A brief look of approval flashed across the transfiguration professor's face before sliding back into careful neutrality, "It is your interview, Mr. Potter. Incidentally, I recommend insisting on having Ms. Skeeter write it by hand. I am told she uses a Quick-Quotes Quill, and they are reputed as having a spurious grasp on what has been said."
Harry nodded, smiling at her in gratitude. He waited a moment while she had Ron join him and hastily explained what was going on and how he wanted him to join in.
"You just don't want to speak to her alone." Ron grinned cheekily.
"I'd rather compliment Snape on his hair than do this alone." Harry admitted.
The two politely ignored the small sounds which emanated from McGonagall. The professor cleared her throat then ushered them up the nearest flight of stairs. She guided them to a classroom which was normally unused, but was occupied by Rita Skeeter and her photographer, who was busy setting up a space for them to get some photos.
The woman herself was dressed in an acid-green leather garment and wore rhinestone glasses that reminded Harry of a beetle. She wore her blonde hair in curls which Aunt Petunia would have appreciated.
The moment she saw them, she smiled like a cat who'd found its latest meal and said, "Harry Potter! How marvelous! Thank you for escorting him, Professor, but you and your little friend may leave us."
"Actually," Harry spoke up, annoyed by the woman's attitude and the way she'd addressed Ron, "I would like Ron to stay. He's my best mate, you see, and I'd like someone who can help me remember things I may have forgotten."
"Accuracy is important in your line of work, as I understand it," Professor McGonagall intoned.
Skeeter considered for a moment before shrugging her shoulders, "Very well, boys. Have a seat and thank you again, Professor. I'll call for you when we're done."
McGonagall frowned but left all the same. Ms. Skeeter had them sit down at a table across from her while she placed parchment and a green quill on her side.
"That's the Quick-Quotes Quill," Ron said, "Dad brought one home once when it had been cursed to only write the names of American footballers."
Harry nodded, immediately grateful for Ron's presence. When Skeeter sat down across from them, he asked if she could use another quill.
"Now, now, Harry," she waved her finger at him, "I don't tell you how to do your job "
"The thing is," Harry spoke as confidently as he could, "I understand those quills can be unreliable at times. I'd hate to be misquoted and have to place a lifetime ban on interviews with the Prophet."
That stilled Skeeter's hand, but she rallied and said, "I hold myself to the highest of standards, Mr. Potter. I promise that this quill will record your every word as it is intended."
Harry and Ron shared a look before Ron said, "My mum's gonna be so disappointed, she was really looking forward to reading this. She's a fan of Ms. Skeeter's, y'know?"
"I know." Harry said in a thoroughly disappointed tone, "Maybe she'll get a new subscription to who I decide to do my interviews with. Let's look around and see if we can find another paper, Ron."
"Right, Harry." They stood as one and made to leave.
"Wait! Just where are you going?!" Skeeter rose to her feet, "We have a contract, Mr. Potter!"
"Not so long as you use that quill." Ron shot back, "Ol' Mum's liable to have a heart attack at the lies it might record."
"Mistakenly, of course." Harry said.
"Of course."
Panic spread through Rita's eyes before she said, "Very well! I will do this interview without that quill."
The duo turned to her and Harry said, "'Without that quill?'"
"Who's to say there isn't another quill just like it somewhere around here?" Ron speculated.
"I will ensure that it is a thoroughly normal quill." Skeeter ground.
"No, I will ensure that it is a thoroughly normal quill." Harry said, producing a quill and inkwell from his pack.
Skeeter glared at him for a long moment, a glare he met with stoic determination. Finally, she caved and agreed to use his quill and ink. The boys joined her at the table as she, rather shakily, took hold of the quill and wrote out her first question.
The first few were mostly just questions about how old they were, what house they were in. There were a few questions about the Weasley and Potter families, which Ron mostly answered, before they finally arrived at the Chamber of Secrets.
And Hermione.
"On Halloween night, you boys were the first to discover that the legendary 'Chamber of Secrets' had been opened." Skeeter said, "Would you like to tell us how that happened?"
Harry and Ron kept silent for a long time, but Skeeter (in a rare moment of wisdom) recognized that they needed time to gather themselves to talk about it. Now wasn't the time to pressure these young men.
Finally, Harry said, "We'd been invited to Nick's, sorry, Sir Nicholas's Deathday Party. He was hoping to join the Headless Hunt, an organization for headless ghosts. It was pretty good, actually, until we realized that Hermione hadn't shown up yet."
"She'd said she wanted to do some research before joining us." Ron picked up, "She's always been a reader and researcher. It's fun for her."
"Almost like a Ravenclaw, some would say." Rita suggested.
Harry smiled, "She considered Ravenclaw, but she wanted to be in the House of the Brave."
"I thought she'd been missorted at first," Ron said, "But she's definitely a Gryffindor."
"Let's get back to the question, boys." Rita interrupted.
"...We were coming back up from the dungeons." Harry continued, "We'd left early to find Hermione and see if we could get some food."
"We've had to drag her out of the library a few times." Ron reminisced with a grin.
"If we didn't, she'd never eat." Harry chuckled.
"So it wasn't anything new to us," Ron admitted, "And...we never thought we'd find her like…"
The boys went silent again, each lost in the memory of that night. Rita left them to their thoughts for a few moments before she delicately asked, "What did you find?"
Neither wanted to answer; Harry had always disliked his fame, as it was a constant reminder of his parents' deaths. He hated being in this situation, but he tried his best to keep his word.
It wasn't like he hadn't seen this question coming, he just...didn't want to talk about it.
But they needed to, he realized. The world needed to know that Hermione was lying petrified in the hospital ward, and she needed help. If talking about it got her help in any way, it would be worth it.
He was suddenly quite grateful to Colin. He would have to thank him for this.
Harry answered, his voice raw with emotion, "She was lying in the stairwell. She was cold, stiff, her eyes frozen in shock. I thought she was dead."
Ron nodded and whispered, "I did, too."
"I tried to find a pulse," Harry said, "But I couldn't; she was so stiff."
"I thought it'd been an attack," Ron said, "So I had my wand out, watching out for Harry while he checked for…"
"That must have been awful for you boys," Rita said, some sympathy leaking into her voice, "What were you thinking at the time?"
"I thought we'd lost her." Harry said quietly.
"I told him to shut it," Ron grimaced, "I didn't even want to consider it."
"It must have come as a relief when the Headmaster confirmed that she was alive." Rita said.
The boys nodded, still caught up in their emotions. Before they could continue, a knock sounded at the door and Professor McGonagall entered the room. She stopped when she saw how distraught her two Gryffindors were.
McGonagall quietly informed Skeeter that the interview was over. The reporter objected, saying she had only one more question.
"The supposed 'Heir of Slytherin' has claimed responsibility for Ms. Granger's attack. Is there anything you'd like to say about him or her? Any message?"
Harry lifted his head, his eyes red and fists clenched.
Hermione loved Shakespeare, and she always enjoyed quoting him when an opportunity came up. One of those quotes had always stuck with Harry, one he believed thoroughly.
He whispered, "Cowards die many times, before their deaths."
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A/N: this chapter was very difficult to get through, tapping into the raw grief that comes with this kind of material. That's the reason why I chose to use Shakespeare as an influence in this, both with the end quote (from Julius Caesar) and with the title. Not to mention that Hermione, while absent for a vast majority of this fic, is a clear reference to Shakespeare (The Winter's Tale).
Speaking of which, to clarify, Hermione will be an actual character in the future. Likely near the end of the fic.
On other business, I've decided to set up a schedule for my posting.
Week one is It's All On Us, week two will be Nightmare Clock, and week three will be The Next Life. Week four will be a week off, to recharge my batteries as it were. So next week, I'll post up the next chapter of Nightmare Clock and so on.
Either way, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for any grammatical errors, and hope you leave a review. Thanks!