Harry Potter and the Moral Dilemma Chapter 7
Questions
Soon after Halloween Harry was sitting in the library working on a paper for Professor Binns when Ginny walked over and sat down.
"Harry, We need to talk," Ginny said.
"Something up?" Harry queried looking at his fiancée.
"I'm not sure I'm ready for motherhood," Ginny said.
"Ginny, you thinking of terminating the pregnancy?" Harry asked a little concerned.
"No I plan on continuing the pregnancy. I'm just wondering if we should keep the baby or put it up for adoption," Ginny said. "I don't regret the night we slept together after Peeves destroyed Sirius's bed. In fact I rather enjoyed it."
"I found it enjoyable as well. Your parents were a little annoyed about the whole thing at first but Things are looking up," Harry said.
"It's like Dumbledore always says 'Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery'," Ginny said. "My parents realized that my pregnancy was a done deal. Besides while Percy like me is engaged Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George haven't even reached that point. In Fred and George's cases they can't even find a girlfriend. In simpler terms my parents don't have any grandchildren and they soon might have a grandchild."
"Providing we keep the baby. Giving it up could be a problem since we would want to try ti ensure that he or she was adopted into a proper home. Preferably a wizard home since not all Muggles are real accepting of magic," Harry said.
"You of course are referring to Muggles like the Dursleys. I admit I've only seen your uncle from a bit of a distance but he doesn't seem real pleasant," Ginny said.
"He isn't," Harry said.
They then started to kiss each other when they head a gagging sound. They looked over to find Draco Malfoy looking in their direction. Harry glared at him and Malfoy quickly vanished. Madam Pince also gave Malfoy a glare as he was leaving the library.
"What have you been working on anyway?" Ginny asked.
"A paper for History of Magic on Turn of the Century Britannic Wizardry. Turn of the Century as in Late 1800's to early 1900's. It's a pretty interesting topic. I'm mainly looking at it from the side of Wizards more like Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel but also a little bit at Dark Wizards. Too early for Voldemort to be in power but it helps to know about past Dark Wizards as well," Harry said.
Ginny started shuddering at the mention of Voldemort's name since almost nobody even at Hogwarts ever referred to him by name. Another face looked extremely pale which was strange since he was a ghost.
"Interesting idea for your paper Mr. Potter," Prof. Binns said. "Oh Miss Weasley, I assume you have made progress on your paper."
"It's all finished and sitting in my room," Ginny said trying to cross her fingers behind her.
"Good, how about bringing it by my office in say half an hour so I can look at it," Prof. Binns said as he floated by.
Ginny groaned as she watched Prof. Binns disappear through a wall.
"It's only half done," Ginny said. "Nice thing it's almost at his requested length as it is so maybe he won't notice."
"Sometimes I wonder if Professor Binns even noticed he is dead," Harry said.
Harry walks into the Common Room a couple hours later after finishing his paper along with a take home essay exam for Potions. Looking down on the floor he saw several small pieces of ordinary paper. The paper had designs on it and amongst the designs were pictures of people like Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Jackson, and Lincoln, numbers like 1, 10, 2, 20, and 5 and the Words United States of America. Another word dollars came to mind.
"Blimey this must be money used by Muggles in America," Harry said as he picked it up. While Harry was used to Muggle money having lived with the Dursleys most of his life he had never laid his eyes on American currency before.
"Gang, did someone drop American Muggle Money?" He asked the occupants of the common room.
"I might have," Kelly said. "I'm originally from there after all."
"I didn't realize it," Harry said.
"Not many people do. My parents and I live in Stratford now but we still have family over there and one of them sent me some money. We had just moved to England when I received The Letter," Kelly said.
Most students knew that The Letter was the one that every student received informing them of their acceptance to Hogwarts and what books and supplies they needed to buy before arriving there the first time.
"My brother and I were born to a wizarding family only he was abused and we were placed in a foster home with a real nice Muggle Couple. They decided to adopt us since even an appeal to the American Secretary of Magic wouldn't gets us back with our parents. They didn't care that I'm a witch and my brother a wizard. The Secretary of Magic is kind of like the British Minister of Magic," Kelly continued to explain.
"Sounds like you lucked out Kelly," Harry said thinking of what like with the Dursleys had been like. To an extent you could almost say that Harry's aunt and uncle were abusive.
The next day Harry was looking at an old Student Listing from fifty some years ago and came across the name Myrtle Anderson. Harry also found a series of books marked Famous European Families of Wizardry. He knew Myrtle had been Muggle horn but he thought he might find a clue. He did Myrtle's sister married the brother of one of Harry's Grandfather's. Specifically his late mother's Father. Myrtle was indirectly part of Harry's family tree.
"Oh if only Wizard's had something equivalent to Xerox," Harry muttered as Ron and Hermione walked over.
"Something up Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry indicated the page he had found.
"This is real interesting. Do you think Moaning Myrtle is aware of this?" Hermione asked.
"She might be but it's real weird," Ron said. "Imagine finding a ghost you know is the sister of a Great Aunt of yours especially among a family of Muggle's."
"You forget my mom was muggle born so it could explain a lot," Harry said.
"Harry, you mind if I look at this I want to read up on Kelly's parents. Her birth parents to be exact," Hermione said.
"Hermione, Kelly was practically a baby when she was adopted I doubt you'll find much," Ron said.
"I might," Hermione said. "I came here to look into it as it is."
"Hermione, maybe after you graduate you should come back here as Madam Pince's assistant you spend enough time here as it is doing research," Ron said trying to joke around with the Witch's version of Nancy Drew. Hermione though didn't find it funny.
The next day at breakfast Harry started thinking about Christmas though he knew he couldn't do much about it that day since he had class. He wanted to get something special for each member of his little group.
A Short time later Harry was noting several names on his List
Myrtle Anderson
Lucy Collins
Colin Creevey
Dennis Creevey
Hermione Granger
Leslie Lowdy
Kelly Nichols
Ginny Weasley
Ron Weasley
He then thought back to when his group was just him Ron and Hermione. Up until he first became truly friends with the Creevey brothers and then fell in love with Ginny since Leslie joined the group because of Ginny and Lucy and Kelly because of Hermione. Myrtle generally hung with them when she could since They treated her better then most of the Population of Hogwarts even staff since Myrtle spent as much time on Filch's grudge list as the entire student body of Hogwarts and Peeves. Between Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris it was hard especially at night for anyone to sneak around since if Mrs. Norris caught you it wouldn't be long before Filch arrived. Getting past those two required everything from Invisibility Cloaks to Marauder's Maps since you couldn't use Magic in the corridors so wands were of no help. Harry then headed toward class when his ink bottle fell out of a hole in his bag and smashed splashing ink onto a nearby pair of shoes. He looked at the shoes then slowly up at Filch.
"Well Well Potter you have any idea how much those shoes cost me," Filch asked.
"They look like a pair of thirty Galleon shoes," Harry said grabbing his money sack and taking out a small pile of gold colored Galleons and counting out thirty.
"Try eighty Galleons Potter," Filch said. "Eighty Galleons which is a months pay for me around this place. I just bought them at the beginning of the term and you just ruined them."
"I'm sure they can be cleaned Mr. Filch," Harry said a slight tremble in his voice as he continued to count out money. "Tell you what I'll buy you a new pair. I'll buy you five new pairs if you wish."
"Oh you'd do anything to get out of detention wouldn't you Potter. Big Man around the Castle aren't you. Bigger then Hermione Granger and Justin Finch-Fletchey Put Together and They are the Head Boy and Head Girl not respectively of course," Filch said. "See you tonight Potter for your detention."
Harry was steaming when he got to Transfiguration.
"Harry, what happened?" Prof. McGonagall asked.
"My ink bottle fell out of my bag and broke splashing ink on Filch's shoes. He gave me detention for it," Harry said.
"It was accidental wasn't it?" McGonagall asked.
Harry nodded.
"He'll probably make me clean the ink off his shoes tonight," Harry said.
"Harry don't worry about it Filch has been really edgy lately writing people up and handing out detentions for little things. So long as some kinds of amends are made you probably won't have to actually serve any detention time," McGonagall said. "This is a good example since it was accidental."
Harry lasted through the day and at dinner Dumbledore waved him over to an empty seat next to him at the staff table. Harry was nervous as he sat down. Snape gave his usual cold stare at Harry. It looked even colder then usual.
"Harry, I discussed the situation in the corridor earlier with Argus Filch and since the ink falling was accidental I got you off of Detention. He still feels that some kind of punishment is warranted but I reminded him it was accidental. I took a mere three points from Gryffindor and promised him that amends would get made," Dumbledore said.
"Thanks Professor Dumbledore. I did offer to replace his shoes but he wasn't impressed," Harry said.
"That was thoughtful of you Harry," Sinistra said. "Mind you I hadn't seen Filch that edgy in a few years."
"Not many have," McGonagall said.
"Well I probably should be getting down to my house's table," Harry said.
"Harry, the reason I waved you up here tonight is so you could eat as my guest," Dumbledore said. "When the School eats as a group like this it's hard for me to have small dinners with one or two students when I desire it. Therefore Occasionally even if I haven't done it in a long time like to have a student join me up here for dinner. Much as you have done for this school Harry since you started this is long overdue."
"I agree," Hagrid said from his seat on the far end.
Snape of course was not impressed. In fact the next day in potions Snape started out as usual by writing the ingredients for that days Potion on the Black Board. Harry quickly wrote them down and started getting the first ingredient ready. When he reached the seventh ingredient in he checked his supply of the ingredient and groaned.
"You in pain or something Potter?" Snape asked.
"No it's just I'm almost out of one ingredient in fact I don't have enough for the potion," Harry said.
"That's too bad Potter and it will cost Gryffindor a nice fifty points since you are unprepared for class," Snape said.
Ron slipped a supply of the ingredient over to Harry soon as Snape's back was turned.
"I had Fred and George send me a wholesale supply since we use it in almost every potion," Ron whispered.
"Thanks Ron," Harry said. "That might explain why I'm almost out."
"Well I owed you one," Ron said.
Harry then started mixing the potion of the day. Towards the end of class Snape walked over and took a look.
"Looks good. For once in fact you have the viscosity right. You also apparently found a fresh supply of wormroot. OK who gave it to you Weasley or Granger?" Snape asked.
"Neither of them," Harry lied.
"I doubt you would have gotten any from say Goyle since he is with the other house," Snape said.
"Sir I slipped it to him," Neville said in order to cover for Ron.
"I should have guessed Longbottom," Snape said. "Don't think that act will earn any brownie points for Gryffindor. In fact I'm going to take ten points from Gryffindor for it."
"Suit yourself you bloody ogre," Neville said.
The bell rang right then and Neville ran for cover before Snape could respond. Harry and Ron were a ways behind him.
"Oh man I thought Neville was dead when he insulted Snape," Ron said.
"Ron if anything Snape has had that coming for a long time," Harry said.
"Snape had what coming?" Lucy asked as she walked up to them upon their exiting from the lowest dungeons where Snape's classroom and office were.
"Neville called Snape a bloody ogre right before the bell rang at the end of Potions," Ron said.
"I bet Snape wasn't too pleased," Lucy said.
"He probably wasn't. But then Neville is afraid of Snape as it is," Harry said before telling Lucy an old Story involving Neville and a Boggart. Lucy was laughing hysterically at the end of it. Right then they walked by Filch's open office. A few yards down the corridor Harry stopped.
"Ron, Lucy, something didn't look right in Filch's office. I'm going to check it out," Harry said.
"Harry, Filch might not like you snooping around his office," Ron said. "Gryffindor lost enough points today."
"I don't think it will matter," Harry said.
Ron and Lucy Shrugged but they turned and followed him. Harry looked in and saw Filch sitting in his desk chair a stiletto sticking out of a point on his chest that was slightly off center.
"Lucy, go find Madam Pomfrey. Ron, go find Prof.'s Dumbledore and McGonagall," Harry said. " Ron the accessway to Dumbledore's office is on the second floor behind a real ugly gargoyle. The password is generally some kind of candy." Harry whispered in Ron's ear.
Seven minutes later Lucy arrived back with Madam Pomfrey. Prof. McGonagall was right behind her. Madame Pomfrey did a quick examination of Mr. Filch.
"This is not good so very not good," Madam Pomfrey said as she examined the caretaker.
"Harry, what exactly did you see?" Prof. McGonagall asked him.
"Just what you saw when you arrived. I didn't touch anything in the office all I did was send Ron Weasley and Lucy Collins to get help," Harry said as Ron returned with the headmaster.
"Poppy, what is your diagnosis?" Dumbledore asked as he saw the nurse muttering away.
"This is most alarming. Albus, it looks like Argus Filch might have committed suicide. Suicide or foul play he is dead either way," Madam Pomfrey said.
Ten minutes later Filch's body was moved to the Hospital Wing's morgue. Dumbledore meanwhile stayed behind with Harry, Ron, and Lucy.
"We better see if we can find a clue as to how he died. In other words was it suicide or foul play," Harry said.
"I'll leave it up to an investigator from the Ministry," Dumbledore said.
Harry, and his crew then returned to Gryffindor since it was close to dinner. Prof. McGonagall was in the Common Room taking names of students who were staying over the Christmas Holiday.
"I'll be at my house in Hogsmeade," Harry said.
"I figured as much," McGonagall said. "Ginny signed on to stay but she will probably spend it at your house she said."
Lucy and Ron quickly added their names to the list. Harry noticed how of his group only Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Lucy had signed the list. He was surprised that Leslie, the Creevey brothers, and Kelly weren't staying. Right after that everyone headed for dinner. Dumbledore was in his customary seat as the Great Hall filled up. As the last seat was filled Dumbledore rapped a knife across his goblet. The hall which had been filled with murmuring went silent.
"I have some unfortunate news to pass on. A Short time ago our beloved Caretaker Argus Filch was found dead in his office. I already had an owl sent to the Ministry of Magic requesting an investigator to look for evidence of whether it was suicide or foul play. An autopsy is scheduled," Dumbledore said
The next day an investigator from the Magical Law Enforcement Office arrived and spent five minutes in Filch's office where he found the suicide note. The death of Argus Filch was then officially declared a suicide.