Martin Slips up
For a while, the two friends talked normally, as though nothing was going on. But finally, Dumbledore broke.
"Godric," choked Dumbledore, as he broke down into tears. "Why did I do it? Why?"
The great wizard remained silent, his lips pursed. It was clear that he disapproved of Dumbledore's actions no less than anyone else would. But unlike them, he would not turn away.
"I…don't know," he replied finally. "But you can't be sure that it is that that he knows. I mean, you must have done plenty of things wrong in your life!"
"No," sobbed Dumbledore. "Since my brother was condemned for his illegal practices on goats…and I know that is nothing compared to what I…I promised myself I would never do anything against our code."
"Look…the best you can do is what you are doing now. Hold out and pretend you aren't scared. Listen, I have to go. Stay strong Albus," said Godric, and he slapped him on the back and dissolved into thin air.
There was a knock on the door. Hastily, Dumbledore dried his eyes. "Enter" he announced, recomposing himself as best he could.
It was Harry Potter. Dumbledore smiled. He had a bit of a soft spot for the boy…he'd saved him from exclusion a number of times.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir, I have got a bit of a complaint to make," he said, fingering his prefect badge nervously.
"Well…carry on," Dumbledore urged.
"I was walking in the dungeons when I saw Martin Griggs…you know, the new boy. He was beating up one the third years…I don't know who it was, a Hufflepuff. And I wouldn't have told you but…well, I thought, since I'm a prefect, I should…"
"Thank you Harry," Albus said. "Is there anything else?"
"No…" said Harry. "Well, yes…no, never mind."
"What is it?" Asked Dumbledore gently.
"Well…are you OK?" Harry asked. "Because I've kind of noticed that…well, you have this sort of twinkle in your eyes and it seems to have disappeared this term."
Dumbledore smiled. He should have known it would be Potter who would notice the change.
"I'm fine," he assured. "But…well, I wouldn't ask in normal circumstances, but these aren't normal. You couldn't keep an eye open for strange sort of happenings could you? Tell Mr Weasley and Ms Granger to as well…I rather need to know if you see anything out of the ordinary."
However strange Harry thought this comment, he didn't show it.
"Yeah, of course," he said. He looked up, and opened his mouth.
"You may go," said Dumbledore firmly, nodding towards the door.
***
A few weeks later, and Harry, Ron and Hermione had been keeping to Harry's word. They took to allocating 'spots' for each lunch break, where they patrolled a certain part of the castle. They also entrusted Martin Griggs…even after what Harry had seen. Together, they searched and searched…but so far…nothing.
Once, Harry saw a strange man heading away from the Gryffindor portrait, but Martin, who was with him, assured him that the man was a teacher. Making Harry feel rather an idiot, since he had been at Hogwarts for five years.
Once, Harry saw a strange man heading away from the Gryffindor portrait, but Martin, who was with him, assured him that the man was a teacher. Making Harry feel rather an idiot, since he had been at Hogwarts for five years.
It quite humiliated Harry to report back "Nothing, sir, sorry" to Dumbledore when he passed him in the corridor.
There was no doubt about it…that the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes had disappeared. And no one had noticed, everyone was wrapped up in Quidditch, Martin Griggs and the maniac loose from The magical Maladies and illnesses home in Kw'zzham (An all magical town in Wales.)
***
In December, Professor McGonnagal announced that another Yule ball would be held, due to the success of last year's. As a result, again, the whole school was staying for Christmas.
Harry was certain that Cho would be going with Martin, they were the perfect match. So he kept his head down and hoped somebody would ask him.
Therefore, he was very pleasantly surprised when Cho Chang approached him as he came out of the Transfiguration classroom. Ron, Dean and Seamus smirked and carried on walking while he stopped to talk to her.
"Hey Harry," she smiled, waving.
"Hi," Harry said, grinning from ear to ear.
"So…how's it going?" Cho asked, looking at the floor and a very interesting stain…looking suspiciously like blood.
"Um…fine, yeah. Not looking forward to the OWLs, revising hard!" Harry said, in a desperate attempt to seem interested and compassionate. 'Yeah right,' he thought to himself.
"Hey," Cho added. "I was wondering…since I couldn't last year, do you wanna go to the Yule Ball with me this year?"
Harry looked up, staring. "You aren't going with Martin Griggs?" He asked, disbelieving.
"What, that arrogant pig? No way…no offence. So, is it a yes or a no…cos if you've already got someone then…"
"No, it's a…I mean, yes…it's a…yeah, OK," Harry finished casually, and would have looked it if he weren't blushing the roots of his hair.
"See you there then!" Cho laughed and walked away.
***
So the night of the Yule Ball, Harry was in exceptionally high spirits. He was chatting to Martin Griggs about what they'd been doing in the corner of the common room…Harry in his bottle green robes and Martin in his sky blue designer label ones.
Martin was going with Jade Krissmas, who was a Ravenclaw in his year. She was perfectly happy about this equation but Harry could tell Martin was a bit put out about him going with Cho.
"Why does Cho think you're an 'arrogant pig' Martin," asked Harry. I mean, I don't, but what happened between you two.
"Cho," spat Martin not giving an answer. Then he turned away from Harry and walked out, leaving the saviour of wizards more puzzled than ever.
As Martin climbed out the portrait hole he broke into a run. If he ran, he could prevent the tears from coming out. His face was stinging a lot but he kept on going. He reached a toilet on the 3rd floor, down the corridor where he'd heard there'd been a little trouble 4 years ago.
He went in and rubbed his eyes viciously, hoping Harry would not follow him.
After he had brought himself together he walked slowly down to one of the deepest, darkest dungeons.
He sucked in his breath, closed his eyes and went in.
"Hello boy," said a man inside.
"Hello Master," said Martin, turning away.
But when he looked, he still saw the man who Harry had seen walking from the portrait hole…
But this was no teacher. In front of him was also the man who Dumbledore had been bargaining with for the whole term.
And Martin was calling him 'master.'