Young Ms. Figg, Chapter 8

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Young Ms. Figg, Chapter 8

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione went down to the great hall for breakfast on Saturday morning, Harry noticed Ella Figg was already there. She was seated at the staff table tightly clutching a mug of coffee and looking as if she were trying very hard to follow something Professor McGonagall was saying. Harry smiled. She looked like Professor Sinistra did if she was awakened before noon.

Harry's attention was soon caught by some sharp words from Ron,

"Hermione, you've been on about that since yesterday! For the love of Ptolemy, can't you give it a rest?"

"Ron," said Hermione, clearly irritated, "This is important. O.W.L.s are a big deal."

"Yes, Hermione," said Ron with exaggerated patience, "And you're going to get full marks on all of them, so stop obsessing!"

"Ron," Hermione retorted in a rather school mar'mish tone, "If I do well it will be because I applied myself and PREPARED-"

Ron interrupted, exasperated, "Hermione Granger, you are the last person who needs any more preparation, you could pass those things with full marks right this minute. Frankly, I'm getting tired of hearing about it!"

"Just because I actually want to pass my O.W.L.s-" Hermione began hotly

"STOP IT!"

It was Neville's voice that finally cut in and both Ron and Hermione looked toward him with surprise.

"The two of you are just making it worse for everyone else. Hermione, stop talking about it all the time. Ron, leave her alone when she does. Honestly! Just shut it, both of you, and think about Hogsmeade."

Both Ron and Hermione's mouths had formed little "o's" but Harry was grinning at Neville. He gave him a thumbs-up and turned his attention to his porridge. As he did, however, his eye was caught by a swift movement at the top of the hall. He looked up to see Snape moving quickly to Professor McGonagall and Ella Figg. He spoke urgently to them. Figg put her coffee cup down sharply and rose with McGonagall to follow Snape out of the Hall.

This gave Harry a bad feeling. He turned to say something to Ron and Hermione. They must have noticed Harry looking at something for their eyes, too, had followed the Staff persons out of the hall.

"It's probably nothing." Ron said unconvincingly, "You know, Peeves locking some Firsties in a broom cupboard or something."

Harry nodded and said nothing, pushing his porridge away. He wasn't hungry any more.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend and Harry found himself distracted from his worries by the many wonders of Honeydukes and Zonkos. When he, Ron and Hermione returned to their common room before lunch his worries resurfaced. Hermione, in prefect-mode, had insisted upon returning "just for lunch" to check on the first and second years. Some of those students were reading a new note on the notice board. The note stated that Madam Figg's advising appointments would be postponed until further notice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other.

"Something's definitely wrong," Harry said darkly.

"Yes, but what?" asked Hermione, "I mean it could literally be any number of things."

"Yeah," Ron chimed in hopefully, "It could even just be something personal."

"No," Harry said, "If it was, would Snape have involved McGonagall, too?"

"Harry," Hermione said looking at him shrewdly, "You're thinking of something in particular that might be wrong, aren't you?"

"Yes." Harry said grimly.

"Well?!" Ron asked.

"Maybe it's silly," Harry said, suddenly uncertain.

"Harry!" both Ron and Hermione said together.

"Well, it's just that what Dumbledore's been having her do so far is to watch me and then watch the Dursley's. I'm supposed to be perfectly safe here so she doesn't have to worry about me. But what about the Dursleys?"

"But Harry," said Hermione reasonably, "You said they had a wizard from the ministry looking out for them, right?"

"Yes, but Ella Figg said it was an old wizard... I think she may have even said Perkins was 'doddering'."

"Perkins?" Ron asked in alarm.

"Yes." Harry said looking at him strangely, "why?"

"You didn't tell us his name was Perkins, Harry!"

"So?"

"So, Perkins is the old warlock who works with Dad at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. He's hopeless! If your aunt and uncle are really in danger he wouldn't be of much use to them."

"Terrific." Harry said flatly.

"Come on," Hermione said determinedly, "Lets go see McGonagall. If it's to do with the Dursley's she'll have to tell us, after all, they're Harry's, er, well, they are his family." Hermione turned with determination and led the way out of the portrait hole.

McGonagall wasn't in her office. Hermione looked undecided about where to look for her next, but Harry had no such problem.

"I'm going to see Dumbledore." he said, striding away. Ron and Hermione were left with no choice but to follow.

Harry was striding so swiftly ahead of them that, by the time they caught up to him at the gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Harry already had it open. Neither Ron nor Hermione asked him how he had opened it. They simply walked through and followed Harry onto the magically moving spiral staircase, eyes wide.

Before they reached the top they could hear urgent voices through the half open door.

"Are ye certain, Albus?" they could hear McGonagall say, her Scottish burr thick with stress.

"Of course, Minerva, or I certainly would not have acted." Answered Dumbledore's level tones. "In any case, we should hear back for certain very soon."

"And if we don't?" asked the voice of Snape rather sharply.

"We will deal with things as they come, Severus"

The trio had reached the landing at the top of the stairs and Harry motioned Ron and Hermione to be quiet.

"I am disinclined to wait, headmaster. I think I should follow immediately."

"You, Severus?" asked McGonagall in surprise, "but you're needed here, man."

"It doesn't matter. Besides if all goes well I will return shortly. Headmaster-"

During this last exchange Ron had pinched his nose between two fingers and kicked Harry gesturing urgently toward his nose. Harry realized that he was about to sneeze and so he knocked, interrupting Snape.

"Come in." Dumbledore said mildly as both Snape and McGonagall turned to see who had arrived. McGonagall looked concerned. Snape angry. Dumbledore did not change expression. Harry had to wonder if, by now, he had come to expect this from Harry. For his part, Ron sneezed.

"Bless you, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore offered

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Harry began, "I, er, we need to speak with you. We can wait downstairs and come back, though." he said looking at Snape and McGonagall.

"No, Harry, that will not be necessary. Besides, we have something to tell you. That is, if you have not already surmised it." the Headmaster said looking shrewdly at Harry.

It wasn't easy to speak to the Headmaster with Snape and McGonagall's eyes boring into him, but Harry took a deep breath and hoped he wasn't being foolish.

"Professor, we noticed that Madam Figg has cancelled-"

"Postponed" McGonagall interupted.

"Ah, postponed her appointments and we couldn't help noticing that something seemed wrong at breakfast. And, well, I know that the last thing you had Ella Figg do was to watch out for my Aunt and Uncle and seeing as how she's gone I had to ask if..."

Harry trailed off here. Maybe he was being silly, jumping to conclusions.

"You were wondering if there might not be something wrong at your Aunt and Uncle's?" Dumbledore supplied.

"Yes sir."

McGonagall's eyebrows had gone up and Dumbledore heaved a small sigh.

"Harry, I was going to have Professor McGonagall speak to you, anyway, and there is no harm in Miss Granger or Mr. Weasley hearing it from me now instead of you later. Harry, your Aunt and Uncle appear to have gone missing."

Hermione gasped and Ron drew in his breath. Harry blinked. It was what he feared, suspected, but it somehow seemed unreal.

"My Aunt and Uncle?"

"Yes, Harry, I'm sorry to say so. The good news, however, is that your cousin Dudley is safe and sound at Smeltings Academy. I have no reason to believe he is in any danger."

"But what about Perkins?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore's expression grew more somber and McGonagall looked at the carpet.

"Perkins was found dead this morning."

Harry was thunderstruck. Perkins was dead. Perkins was watching his Aunt and Uncle and he was dead and they were missing. It was his fault. No one would want to harm the Dursley's if they were not his only living relatives. Suddenly Harry felt that the air had grown thicker somehow and it was hard to breathe. He felt a set of strong hands grasp his arms and lead him to a chair. Harry concentrated on taking a few deep breaths while listening to the conversation going on around him ... although it sounded far away... echoing.

"Perkins? Does my Dad know?" he heard Ron's far away voice ask in alarm.

"I imagine so, Ron."

"They found him dead sir?" Hermione asked

"Yes, Hermione."

"They found his body, then?

"Yes."

"But did they find the Dursley's bodies."

"No they did not."

"It's my Fault!" Harry said, looking up sharply, "If it wasn't for me, they'd be fine. Just like... It's my fault." Harry looked down again after this outburst and felt the strong hands on his arms again. He looked up and saw, with surprise, that they belonged to Snape.

"Mr Potter, I would think you have learned better than that during your time here. Certainly I have attempted to illustrate the principle of cause and effect."

Harry looked at him blankly.

"Mr. Potter, you are not responsible for the acts of others - no matter their motivations. Snape looked back at Dumbledore for a moment, "I should know."

Harry just shook his head.

"Harry!" Hermione said earnestly, "Professor Snape is right, it's not your fault."

Harry did not reply to Hermione. Instead, he looked up toward Dumbledore and asked,

"What's being done?"

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"Ahem, excuse me," said the story, "I want the author to finish me, but she gets depressed without feedback. So, could you fill in the little box below? Thanx."