Secrets and lies
The story broke in the Daily Prophet over summer that a number of prominent individuals had snuffed it.
Harry was trying to get his school-work done and prevent people looking into his mind.
He'd scoured the restricted section for hints on how to avoid veritassium. All he'd found was reference to a thing called occulamancy, which Hedwig managed to get a book about by owl-order. For a hundred galleons.
Hence, trying to learn how to think false thoughts when people might be reading his mind. Because apparently there was a spell for that too.
Harry desperately wished his trunk was bigger so he could have more dark curse books, he needed something really quick for killing mind snoopers, preferably undetectable. All his childish adventures with poisoning seemed so … risky in hindsight. One damn mind reader and he was ruined.
Once back on the Hogwarts express, safely invisible, and in a carriage near the back, Harry summoned a snake. This would be quick and while not foolproof…
"Curl up and hide" said Harry to the snake, and that was when it bit him.
Harry woke up with a horrible gasping breath tangled on the floor of the compartment. He'd told the snake what to do, and it had … not listened. His horcrux had kept him alive. Again. Harry found his glasses, then his wand and dispelled the snake summoning charm. Over and over again.
Conjuring a jar, he summoned a snake into a jar.
And tried to talk to it. It almost ignored him, apart from the trying to bite him. Like he couldn't… speak parseltounge anymore. Harry pondered that for ages, banishing the snake and dispelling the jar, sitting thinking. Finally, the only explanation he could think of was that somehow Voldmeort's Horcrux had given him the power of parseltounge…. That he didn't have it any more.
Which cut into several plans. A lot less point in making a basilisk he couldn't control, for example.
And this year's plan of using a snake was a bust also.
At least Voldemort probably wouldn't be attacking him this year. And he had life insurance.
-==0==-
Several compartments away, a Gryffindor, a Slytherin and a Hufflepuff walk into a compartment. They were not, it transpired making, or the subject of, a joke.
Daphne Greengrass stood against the wall, wand drawn "Susan, Weasley" she said.
"What's this about?" asked Susan, wearing her prefect's badge.
"And why me?" asked Ron.
"It's Potter" said Daphne Greengrass. Ron rolled his eyes "Yeah, you fancy that arsehole" said Ron.
"What?" snapped Daphne Greengrass "No, Potter's evil. His eyes are red when he's angry. Like a dark wizard. And he doesn't care about anyone."
"Surely he's got some friends?" asked Susan.
"Nobody. His room mates are scared of him. But nobody likes him. He just… treats everyone like talking furniture" said Greengrass, looking down her nose.
"Well he is a Slytherin" said Ron bluntly. "You're all gits"
"Weasley" said Greengrass, pointing her wand at Ron "You might be about to have a very painful learning experience"
Susan raised a hand in a placating gesture "Daphne, While Ron is a pillock, he's good backup. Leave his bits unhexed."
"Bits" squeaked Ron, pressing himself against the hallway door.
"The Headmaster for some reason thinks Potter is some sort of Hero" said Greengrass.
"What's your idea" said Susan.
"Your Aunt" said Daphne Greengrass "Pull Potter in for questioning. It'll come out how evil he is."
"We'd need a cause" said Susan, rolling her eyes.
"That's the second part of my plan" said Daphne Greengrass.
"Plan?" asked Ron.
"Of course I've got a plan" said Daphne Greengrass. "I'm not just going to rush in and confront him."
"So what's the plan?" asked Susan.
"We go to his compartment and confront him" said Daphne Greengrass "He'll do something awful, but I know some healing spells, and I know Susan does."
"And what am I there for?" asked Ron. Susan shot Daphne a look and she nodded.
"Backup" said Daphne.
"I can do that" said Ron, nodding. Daphne rolled her eyes.
Daphne, Susan and Ron walked down the train carriageway, and Daphne stopped quietly "He's in that compartment" she said.
"Shields?" asked Susan.
"I'd recommend it" said Daphne.
"Weasley, could you open the door?" asked Susan.
Ron slid the compartment door open into a compartment with just Harry Potter reading a thick book.
"Weasley?" asked Harry Potter, "What are you doing?"
Ron stepped into the room followed by Susan, with her prefect's badge and Daphne Greengrass.
"Oh, an inquisition" said Harry tiredly "How entertaining. Bugger off."
"You're evil" said Ron tactfully.
"Weasley" said Harry, putting his book down "I've spent five years trying not to die from Voldemort. Not counting the bit where he murdered my parents when I was a baby."
"He's gone" said Ron.
"And who did that?" asked Harry "Not the bloody ministry, that's for sure."
"Are you trying to take credit for that, given that you cheated your way into the Triwizard Tournament?" asked Susan.
Harry's nostrils flared as he inhaled. "Professor Moody was, for ages, actually Barty Crouch Junior using Polyjiuce. He'd been let out of Azkaban by his father, a ministry official." said Harry. "The plan was to have me finish the tournament, and be port-keyed to a graveyard where Voldemort and friends would use me in a ritual to resurrect Voldemort. He was some weird baby thing."
Ron crossed his arms "That's stupid" he said.
Harry nodded "Something about torturing me to death, I expect" said Harry "We found out just after the contest started, and the staff gave Professor Lupin hints so I could live to get to the end, then an Auror was going to portkey over… with a portkey beacon so Aurors or something could do work. I um… decided I wanted revenge. He died, permanently, and I'm not dead. So unless you three are more powerful than Voldemort, bugger off."
"What a bullshitter" said Ron.
Harry drew his wand "Weasley, you got my first friend almost killed. I don't like you. If you leave now, I'll leave all your limbs attached."
"Friends?" asked Daphne Greengrass "You have any friends!"
Harry face tightened and his wand arm steadied "Greengrass, I thought I made it clear last time. Leave me alone and I won't hex back. Considering the number of times you've hexed my bits, I'm starting to think about returning the favour. I HAD two friends, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Neville died saving my life, and Hermione, thanks to fucking Weasley here, was nearly killed by a fucking Troll. She still walks with a limp."
Harry's wand hand started to shake.
"Thanks to Weasley?" asked Susan.
"Bullying" said Harry bluntly "Doesn't like smart girls."
"Potter hates everyone" said Daphne firmly.
"Yes" said Harry "I hate you all. You all judge me, you've put me in the hospital wing so many times I've lost count. My bollocks have a shocking number of scars thanks to you."
Susan turned to look at Daphne Greengrass "Bollocks?"
"He kept saying filthy suggestive things" said Daphne. "When he says swallow, swallow, the taste is awful."
Ron snorted and Susan went red in the face.
"I was Talking about sodding phoenix tears!" said Harry loudly "I had a sodding heart attack when Dumbledore told me about the prophecy. From the sodding Basilik venom, from when I saved you all from the sodding Basilisk in second year. The time I left my arm behind!"
Susan looked at Daphne Greengrass with a frown "Daphne?" she asked.
"He told my little sister to swallow when Professor Dumbledore said to." said Daphne Greengrass stiffly.
"Potter" said Susan firmly "You can't say those sort of things!"
"Not unless the girls a real skank" added Ron unhelpfully.
"He's evil" said Daphne "His eyes go red when he gets angry" she said.
"Look Greengrass, there might be some things I've done that I regret – " said Harry, and he clutched at his chest, choking, and fell off the bench seat, his eyes rolling up into his head, and starting to thrash about, his heels drumming on the floor.
"Greengrass, what did you hit him with?" asked Susan.
"I didn't cast anything at him" said Daphne Greengrass loudly.
"Got him Good" said Ron, trying to drag a spasming, thrashing Harry Potter into the clear space between the two bench seats.
"I didn't hex him" said Greengrass loudly, as Harry Potter's heels drummed and his back arched, blood coming from his mouth.
"I think he's bitten his tongue" said Susan, casting a stunning charm on Harry's head. Harry relaxed and lay flat.
"Ron" asked Susan "Can you check if he's choking on his tongue?"
Ron pulled Harry's jaw open and eyed his mouth "Bitten tongue, but not bitten off" said Ron, dropping Harry's head to the floor with a thump and wiping his hands on Harry's shirt.
Daphne Greengrass cast a spell on the shirt, and the stain fizzed and vanished, then she said "Weasley, hold out your hands, I can clean them" she said.
Ron inspected his hands afterwards "What's that?" he asked.
"Scourgify" said Daphne Greengrass. "A general purpose cleaning charm. Susan, any guess what the hell happened to Potter?"
"None at all" said Susan "I'm going up to the prefects carriage to get a seventh year. You two stay here, in case."
"In case what?" asked Ron.
"In case someone slits his throat now he's stunned?" asked Daphne Greengrass.
"Slits his throat?" asked Ron, looking aghast.
"Or held a pillow over his face" said Daphne, starting to count on her fingers to two.
"Daphne, please don't murder him while I'm gone" interrupted Susan, with a frown.
Susan left hastily, sliding the door nearly shut.
"You really think someone would kill him?" asked Ron.
"If he did actually help kill He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, any number of Slytherin students would do it, and their parents would be very happy." said Daphne. "The ones who only have one parent alive now that so many ex-Death eaters mysteriously vanished would be happiest."
"Yours too huh?" asked Ron.
"Don't be stupid." said Daphne Greengrass stiffly "I'd be a prime suspect, and with most of the families that supported He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named have lost at least their fathers."
"Not yours?" asked Ron.
"We just wanted to stay in business" said Daphne Greengrass "My family just want to survive. If his supporters are mostly dead, well, that's helpful. Of course many of my house-mates have lost family members so best not to talk about it in the common room."
"And Potter?" asked Ron.
"Everyone suspects he killed Malfoy, you know" said Daphne Greengrass.
"But… that was a basilisk… and Potter did kill it." said Ron, looking at the unconscious Harry Potter. "He looks smaller unconscious."
"Well, I suppose you're angling to have your sister marry him?" asked Daphne Greengrass.
"Wot?" asked Ron.
"She was his date at the Yule ball" said Daphne Greengrass.
"Ginny um… was a fan" said Ron, blushing "Since she's known him… she still thinks he's a damn good seeker."
"He's good with his broom" admitted Daphne.
Ron coughed "Oh… sorry" said Ron "I'll tell my sister."
Daphne Greengrass lifted her wand "What?"
"I thought you um – hated him … but he's good with his broom huh, just lovers tiffs where you hex his balls" said Ron, at that, Daphne Greengrass's wand pointed right at Ron's groin "One more word out of you, Weasley and you'll have some scars like Potter's." said Daphne Greengrass angrily.
Ron shuddered "Don't hex me –" whimpered Ron, putting his hands over his bits.
The door banged open, and Cedric Diggory strode in.
"Greengrass, for the love of magic, put your wand down. What the blazes happened to Potter?" asked Cedric, drawing his wand and casting a charm on Harry Potter that had Harry glow pink.
Susan Bones pushed in behind Cedric "I stunned him to stop the fit he was having." said Susan.
"A fit?" asked Cedric "What happened?"
Ron explained that Harry had argued, admitted he'd done some things he regretted, clutched his chest, and fallen over, and had a fit.
"His eyes rolled up, and he was thrashing about" said Susan. "Like he was being tortured."
"I didn't do it" said Daphne Greengrass loudly.
"If she did" observed Ron "She did it wordlessly and without a gesture."
"Yes, of course I could because I can do wordless, gesture-less magic" said Daphne sarcastically, "like a teacher."
Cedric cast another charm "Is his tongue all right?" asked Cedric.
"Weasley checked. Bitten but not bitten off" said Daphne Greengrass.
"Madam Pomfrey will need to see him" said Cedric.
"Greengrass says we need to guard him so no slimy Slytherin cuts his throat" offered Ron.
Daphne Greengrass smiled politely.
"Greengrass" said Cedric Diggory. "I expect you three to ensure Potter makes it to Madam Pomfrey in one, live piece."
Susan pointed her wand at Harry and cast a spell 'ennervate.'
Harry twitched, sat up, and screamed continuously, eyes staring sightlessly.
Cedric stunned him again, and he fell back to the floor.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Ron, wiggling a finger in one ear.
Susan rummaged in a robe pocket, and pulled out a vial of blue liquid, which she poured into Harry's mouth, and then cast 'Rennervate' on him again.
Harry woke up, shuddered, coughed and screamed once, then lay shuddering and panting.
"Harry" asked Cedric "are you all right?"
"No I'm bloody not" said Harry feebly.
"Harry, do you know what happened to you?" Cedric asked.
"I've no idea" said Harry, sitting up, elbows shaking from the effort and half-crawling onto the seat beside him, propping himself into the corner, as far away as he could get, and looking at the four other occupants in poorly disgused terror.
"Again, Potter, I'm asking, what's going on" asked Cedric.
"It might be leftover from the poison last year" said Harry.
"Poison?" asked Susan.
"End of the last task. Poison gas. Voldemort's goons" said Harry.
"You were poisoned?" asked Daphne Greengrass incredulously.
"Nearly died" admitted Harry.
"Potter" said Cedric "You bloody fool."
"Hey" said Harry slowly "I won."
Cedric Diggory rolled his eyes "How did you get through the maze so quickly?"
"Plant withering curse" said Harry, and he took a few deep breaths. "You knew there was a maze months in advance and the outside was accessible for experiments" he added weakly.
Daphne Greengrass looked at Harry "You tried spells till you found one that worked?"
"Fourth one I tried" said Harry "Only a Gryffindor would rush in." He closed his eyes and shuddered slightly, his hands clawing into the seat cushions and his knuckles going white.
"Weasley, Bones, Greengrass, organise some trustworthy watchers" said Cedric.
"But you're head boy!" said Ron.
"I'm delegating" said Cedric.
"If he had any friends they could look after him" said Greengrass snidely.
"I had two, one was murdered on this train, the other nearly died in a girls toilet after Ron bullied her." said Harry quietly, not opening his eyes "One decent curse on the door will keep me safe."
"You're not casting dangerous curses in the train" said Cedric Diggory. "Bones, go tell Mulaney I'm sitting guarding the boy-who-collapsed. Greengrass, Weasley, back to your compartments, and keep your mouths shut. Potter has dangerous enemies."
"Greengrass for example has put me in the infirmary half a dozen times" said Harry, eyes still shut.
"Greengrass, keep your temper under control this year" said Cedric Diggory.
"Potter's evil. His eyes even go red" said Daphne Greengrass.
"Yes, like Dark lord Gozmo on the wireless stories" said Cedric, rolling his eyes.
"It's true!" said Daphne Greengrass stridently.
"Potter, open your eyes" said Cedric. Bottle-green eyes, rather bloodshot looked at Cedric.
"I even helped Greengrass the younger find a treatment for a nasty, fatal problem… and Greengrass there hexed me for that too."
"You were being filthy" exclaimed Daphne.
"I was talking about the blasted Phoenix Tears, you hot-headed, hysterical Harridan" said Harry.
"Cor" said Ron "Are all Slytherin arguments this clever?"
"No" said Harry "Mostly Greengrass or a gang of sixth years stun me into next week and hex my bits."
"Is that true, Greengrass?" asked Cedric.
"He's always making lewd statements" said Daphne.
"I wouldn't know what one was if it bit me on the bum" said Harry tiredly.
"Liar" said Daphne Greengrass "He makes allusions to… to … oral sex" she said, and blushed.
"Sex with the mouth?" asked Harry "What's so wrong with kissing? Not that I see the point."
Daphne Greengrass blinked and turned to Susan Bones. Susan stared Greengrass in the eyes and raised one eyebrow. "He has no idea" said Susan incredulously.
"That's not possible" said Daphne Greengrass shaking her head.
"He has no idea" said Susan again.
Ron Weasley was going red in the face. "Potter" said Ron "It's not kissing. No wonder Greengrass hexed you."
Harry closed his eyes. Ron walked over and whispered in Harry's ear. Harry's eyes snapped open.
"What!" said Harry. "I had no idea" he said. "Sorry Greengrass" he said offhandedly "I certainly never meant anything like that. Hexing me is still going to get you blown across the room, mind."
"He had no idea?" asked Daphne Greengrass.
"Well he has a vague idea now" said Ron.
"Great" said Susan "He was innocent and you've corrupted him. Thanks Weasley." she said sarcastically.
"Get out" said Harry weakly.
"Look it's not my fault he didn't know what that was" said Ron.
"It's your fault he knows what it is" said Susan. "He could have been a nice boy, and now he'll be as bad as any of you lot."
"Potter was never nice" said Daphne Greengrass "I've said it before, to Potter, people are just furniture that talks."
"And hexes" said Harry, lying back and closing his eyes again.