Chapter 15: The Aftermath
The following days at Hogwarts were extremely tense. Students quickly noticed Umbridge's absence; however, with no official word from the professors or the ministry, they were wary of getting their hopes up. Unfortunately, on the fourth day following the attack on Azkaban and Umbridge's death, aurors arrived at Hogwarts. Fudge at the helm, Ministry personnel flooded the Great Hall during breakfast and caused quite the scene. From Daphne's place at the front of the Slytherin table she heard the entire exchange.
Fudge stomped down the long aisle in between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables, sending Dumbledore a death glare the whole way. He stopped right in front of Dumbledore's throne-like chair, trying to look menacing in front of a still seated Dumbledore.
"Where is she?" the Minister demanded to know.
"If you're speaking about Delores then that is a question both myself and my colleagues would like to know as well. She has missed several classes and staff meetings and as far as I'm aware not even been on school grounds since last Monday." Dumbledore said feigning concern.
Fudge scoffed and motioned for his aurors to come forward. Auror Captain Dawlish and Senior Auror Shacklebolt moved forward to flank Fudge.
With a smug look on his face Fudge said "it is widely accepted that nothing goes on in Hogwarts without you knowing it. We found her wand in the forbidden forest, broken in two so if that's the case then you're an accessory to the missing persons case regarding Delores Jane Umbridge. Aurors, take him in for questioning." McGonagall gasped and made go for her wand which Dumbledore forestalled. Dawlish and Kingsley fanned out slowly but whilst Dawlish had his wand up and ready, Kingsley still had his at his side.
"Come now Cornelius, surely you're not one to fall prey to rhetoric and hyperbole. You have nothing to press charges with. It is more likely that she got overconfident or lost in the forest and met an unfortunate end" Dumbledore responded diplomatically. Leaning in, Dumbledore said quietly "of course there is a particular person we know who has a propensity for making people disappear."
Wide eyed and starting to sweat, Fudge stepped back quickly and blurted out "he's not back!"
Dumbledore, quick to capitalise on Fudge's imbalance responded, "Be that as it may, I would think the attention of the minister should be focused on the missing criminals running loose in our country rather than a Professor who seems to have been in an unfortunate accident don't you agree?"
Fudge's face was a mixture of anger and concern, likely his approval rating had dropped after the recent breakout and he had no clue where to start in catching the criminals. With one last calculating look at Dumbledore, he spun on his heel, barged through his flock of interns and assistants and left the Great Hall. The aurors stood down and followed Fudge out, once the ministry had left Dumbledore stood and apologised for the commotion and bid everyone a good day before leaving quickly out a side door.
Daphne was incredibly pleased with the outcome of that little spat between their nation leaders.
'It seems Cornelius is grasping at straws, he'll be out of office soon if he doesn't get some wins. It's not likely he'll put many resources into finding Umbridge if that was anything to go by. Coming to Hogwarts today was a failed power play over Dumbledore and not much else. When I speak to Potter again I'll let him know, if that ever happens.' She thought.
Harry hadn't said a word to Daphne since before they were outside Umbridge's office. She had left the forest before him and if she hadn't seen him once at dinner two nights ago then she might've assumed he had died on his way back.
'Not with the power he exhibited. Multiple projections capable of speech and movement and the black fog. No, people with our kind of power don't die to mindless beasts. The way he completely broke Umbridge with mere words was mesmerising, the stupid bint was unhinged in the first place but to make her so terrified in a mere matter of moments was… intoxicating.' she recalled uncomfortably. She had never been attracted to anyone before and she didn't think she would ever be able to consider someone an equal, but Potter was quickly proving to be more than capable of earning that status.
"Say Daphne what do you think happened to Umbridge?" Blaise asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Perhaps your mother got to her? Although she probably doesn't have enough money for your mum to be interested." Daphne replied. Blaise's mother was known as the black widow of Spain because of the fact that several of her very wealthy husbands died mysteriously, leaving everything to her in the aftermath.
"Woah, woah, woah, tone it down Daph" Tracy said quickly.
"No it's okay, it's probably the worst kept secret in Slytherin and you're right, my mum has standards." Blaise acknowledged.
"Could've been Potter's pals or even Potter himself, you know how he is always in the centre of trouble" Tracy supplied. For a moment Daphne panicked but kept it to herself, after all there were only two people who could put together Harry's involvement and they had been sending her contemplative looks for the past four days.
"Have you seen the kid? He's basically the noblest tosser in the school, I don't think he's capable of killing anyone." Blaise refuted.
"Except for Malfoy." Tracy joked and they laughed. The Potter versus Malfoy conflict was a source of entertainment for most in the school. It was a hilarious clash of someone who cares too much about what you have and someone who simply doesn't care at all.
Just then the post owls arrived with the mail. Daphne's owl Thena, named after the Greek Goddess Athena, dropped a letter into her waiting hand before flying off to the owlery as she had been trained to do. Immediately recognising the house signet in the wax seal as her own, she knew it was from her father. Opening it at the table, knowing the privacy charms only allowed family to read the letter, she began to read it in her head.
Dearest Daughter,
Unfortunately you are right to assume I've made no progress on our rat problem, however I have found that the trial of a certain fugitive was a miscarriage of justice considering there was never a trial in the first place. Tell him this will help us later when we have sufficient evidence to call for a retrial.
On the topic of the word horcrux - I have only found mentions of it being the most vile of soul magic known to our kind. What he wants with it is beyond me but let him know I have found a book on auction about soul magic which may have the required knowledge. I have already made a bid for it and should he need it, I will send it through next week.
Remus Lupin has also been in contact and has suggested a place for future meetings to be held instead of Gringotts. He says that the Black assets extend to real estate and that there are a number of properties that he and Black will evaluate in the coming weeks.
Be safe my dear, the world is changing.
With love
Your father
Daphne did her usual checks before burning the letter under the table to not cause a scene. Looking up to see both Tracy and Blaise reading, she decided to scan the hall again for Potter but only saw his two companions getting up to leave.
'With Umbridge gone I can finally make a play on those two.' she thought.
Excusing herself to her only two friends, she got up and followed the two out the great hall doors. Contemplating how to approach the two she failed to notice Hermione sending Ron away making her nearly bump into a stationary Hermione who had revealed herself to be waiting for Daphne.
"Greengrass, any reason why you're following us?" Hermione asked with an edge to her voice.
Caught off guard but schooled in expressions and speech Daphne swiftly recovered and put a bright smile on her face before saying. "Yes actually, I wanted to introduce myself. The name is Daphne Greengrass and recently I've become a friend of Potter's"
Hermione gave her a disbelieving look and responded "Friend? Unlikely. Harry's friends refer to him as Harry. You're either a very good spy to know about the Quirrell situation or very lucky at bluffing."
Mind running a mile a minute Daphne realised this would be harder than she thought. Deciding that being candid would be best for Potter's friends she pressed on. "You know you're not wrong, I would use the term 'friend' very loosely. Recent ventures have brought us together in the advancement of a common goal. However he did tell me about Quirrell so that wasn't a bluff. Let's just say that we both had a similar problem and agreed that working together on it would be beneficial.
Hermione still had the same look of disbelief on her face before it was broken by the distinct look of horror. "Oh. oh, my goodness you two… you, no not Harry but…"
"You okay there?" Daphne asked sarcastically.
Looking around to check that the coast was clear she whispered accusingly "you two got Umbridge killed or at the very least had something to do with her disappearance."
'Fuck. Brightest witch of her age should've known she would've guessed it' Daphne thought.
The fake smile dropped and Daphne became serious. "You don't know that."
"Yes I do. Harry learnt what was going to happen to us and he took things into his own hands like he always does. Then you offer to help him somehow and he agrees because he's the trusting type. When we went to stop your fake plan you panicked and had to reveal too much. Harry killed Quirrell and if it was a Quirrell situation then the logical deduction is…"
"That we killed her yes but maybe I was referring to the fact that Harry simply got rid of Quirrell and not explicitly killed him."
"But that doesn't make sense when you factor in the broken wand in Fudge's hand, the forbidden forest and the fact that we haven't seen Harry in days besides in classes."
"You haven't seen him either?" Daphne asked, surprised.
"No he's likely heaping every conceivable burden there is onto his own shoulders. Whatever you two did to her, I don't care. She's gone now and Ron won't get his hand ripped up by that despicable woman anymore. I'm… grateful
'Oh dear, if you knew what your friend was capable of, you wouldn't be saying that.'
"I haven't admitted to anything." Daphne said, perpetuating the game of cat and mouse.
"You don't need to."
They stood there in silence for a moment each trying to figure the other out. Their deductive skills being some of the most sharpened at Hogwarts meaning that they second guessed everything they deduced on the account of the other being intelligent enough to fake things. Hermione broke the silence.
"You approached us because Umbridge is gone, the fact that no one knows about your little team up made you much more valuable. Now that she's gone you don't see it as necessary?" Hermione guessed.
"Correct, I have been instructed to ingratiate myself in your little group and publicly align with Potter." Daphne revealed, remaining honest.
"Our little group? Not much of a group anymore, Harry has become so isolated. Though I suppose not us much as I thought" Hermione said looking at Daphne in a measure of appreciation. "You wouldn't be able to do so naturally, the consensus in Gryffindor is that every Slytherin is a traitor to the student body for helping Umbridge. You'd be vilified and harassed constantly."
"So you think that I should stay in the shadows?"
"Isn't that where you Slytherins do your best work?" Hermione joked
"I suppose so. I do agree that my value is higher as an anonymous ally however sometime soon I will be in the public eye anyway."
"There is no need to speed up that process though"
"True. I see why Harry appreciates you so much, you're quite intelligent. Will you tell Weasley about Umbridge?"
Hermione smiled at the praise. "Thank you and no. He doesn't have the heart for it. He's a good person down to his core. Harry and I know what it's like to be ridiculed and bullied, it's hardened us in a certain way that Ron just hasn't experienced till now. He took it well but there's no telling how he'd react to something like this. I'll keep it to myself for the time being."
"Both Potter and I appreciate that." Daphne replied simply, agreeing with the analysis of Ron.
"I'm going to go find Ron, I told him that I needed to change my pad and he bolted." Hermione said, laughing at her boyfriend.
Daphne snorted and watched her walk away. The interaction was unexpected but pleasant enough. The old halls of Hogwarts had seen itself a fair share of psychopaths and murderers but the bint that was Umbridge unified the student body well.
'If Hermione Granger, the goody toe shoes of Hogwarts, doesn't care for the murder of a professor then I think we're in the clear. Now where to find Potter, he's not in the Room of Requirement nor the second-floor bathroom, maybe the grounds? But where - oh you utter fool.'
Daphne threw on a disillusionment charm on herself and briskly started walking towards the forbidden forest.
Deep in the forbidden forest a boy sat in a clearing under a very special magical cloak. The boy was trapped in his own mind, turning over events past meticulously enough that he could make out every horrific detail. Like the way his eyes would gleam with satisfaction as his prey grew more desperate or the way he glided across the forest floor with murderous intent.
Harry Potter, Slayer of Basilisks and Dementor's bane never thought that one day he might fear himself. The way he had acted in this very clearing four nights ago had reminded him much too much of the man he so passionately opposed. The rage in his heart took over before he could fight it, and even if he had the chance to fight it, would he have? He couldn't deny its effectiveness. Umbridge had wet herself when he had her at his mercy. And the spell casting was so flawless and easy to grasp.
But he was afraid that he liked it. Was this the path Voldemort took? When would his righteous fury turn into unbridled rage?
There was a rustle of leaves to his right, the sound of someone walking towards him. 'Aurors, here for more evidence' he thought. He was mistaken however when the shrubbery parted to reveal no one. Activating his thermal vision he saw the familiar outline of Daphne Greengrass. He removed his cloak but turned his back from her.
"Why have you come?" He asked.
Daphne dropped her disillusionment charm before responding. "I.. came to check on you." she said. She actually came to scold him however it was clear that he was troubled.
"Heh, truly?
"Well it wasn't my initial intention but it is now. What troubles you?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Specifically."
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. Deciding to actually face his companion Harry turned around and found meeting her eyes difficult. Nonetheless he responded "I'm worried about what I'm capable of. This, what we did, was brutal and last year I would've seen what I've become as an enemy."
"And now?
"Now I see myself as the necessary evil but still evil. I'm worried that my use of the dark arts are sending me down a path I can't come back from." Harry admitted deflated. They stood there in silence for a few short moments before Daphne spoke up calmly.
"You're wrong about being evil because frankly I don't think you're capable. Nor do I think you're capable of being all good anymore. You're a leader of men and women, that means you're going to have to make calls people don't agree with including yourself."
"If my friends knew what I did they wouldn't be so supportive I think." Harry said sadly.
Daphne found herself snorting in amusement for the third time in a single day. Harry looked at her angrily for a moment the first she raised her hand for him to wait and listen. "Granger knows, she doesn't care. That being said she doesn't know the details, but she knows the results and basically said the end justifies the means. That won't always be the case but in this case particularly, we did a good thing."
"Hermione? How?"
"I introduced myself, she deduced it, smart bugger that she is"
Harry smiled, the first smile he could manage in the last four days. Trust Hermione to figure it out so quickly.
"Why doesn't she care"
"Why do you think so?" Daphne asked
"Ron."
"Exactly, focus on that. You saved so many students from that bitch's clutches. Sooner or later she would've taken the school with her ridiculous decrees and then we'd all be suffering under her."
It wasn't like he hadn't thought about it like that before but hearing it affirmed by both Daphne and Hermione made it more real than the doubts he had about himself,
'Daphne and I saved this school from torment. Who cares if I had to channel some inner Voldemort to make the bitch suffer. The courts wouldn't have given her justice nor would Dumbledore so why not me?' he thought darkly.
Meeting her eyes he spoke in a strong voice. "You're right. We avenged those who couldn't defend themselves and we did so with their pain as a primary motivator. If that's not justice then too bad because at the very least it's what she deserved."
"Good, I'm glad you've come around."
"Thank you for your assistance with that. I've been told that I'm a chronic brooder." He said humorously
"Gee whoever said that clearly didn't know you very well." Daphne sarcastically replied.
They shared their first laugh together walking away from the scene of the crime back to Hogwarts.
Lord Voldemort wondered why he needed the pathetic worms in his 'inner circle.' They could never do a job right and it angered him to no end. The night he attacked Azkaban it was meant to be a glorious night of triumph with his whole leadership back with him. But that idiot Avery had to ruin the celebrations by reporting that Broderick Bode had died attempting to retrieve the prophecy from its place.
So not only had Avery failed to get the prophecy from its shelf but had not done enough research about the hall of prophecies to know its enchantments that prevented, quite lethally, people taking prophecies not related to them. In doing so, he had lost Lord Voldemort a, albeit imperiused, spy in the department of mysteries. The pain he visited upon Avery that night had been so severe that the man had wet himself seven times much to his humiliation.
Thankfully his loyal servant Severus had informed him that Potter has been able to see some of his thoughts through their mental and magical connection. Following this revelation, Voldemort perused the Malfoy Library for books on the mind arts and was confident that he could project images into the boy's mind consciously. He would be able to lure Potter to retrieve the prophecy for him and lay a trap.
'It's almost too easy. The Prophecy and Potter's life all in one act. Too easy indeed' the Dark Lord thought as he closed and began his meditations focusing on the connection with the boy who lived.