Chapter 19: More Revelations
Weeks passed at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Marcus seemed to be forgiven, but their actions were not forgotten. They seemed to be mostly alone when not in classes, but it didn't bother them because of their ongoing research into the disappearances. Finally they found something. Ron almost shouted when he discovered it.
"Check this out!" he forced into a loud whisper. "It says here that the knights have managed to create an area in Scotland were no magic can be performed, it's a two mile square area surrounding this huge hill on top of which they live in a castle not dissimilar to Hogwarts. Their customs are similar to medieval England. They are skilled knights, and when they have been encountered in combat, they usually come out victorious..."
"This is exactly what we need..." Harry decided. "We know enough about them now... We can finally go and do something."
"Not really..." Marcus put in. "You heard what he said, there's no chance we can go and fight our way in and bring Cho out..."
"What else can we do?" Harry asked, but the response was muted by an announcement which filled the castle. It was Dumbledore.
"Your attention please... I will be away from school until Friday this week, and so Professor McGonnagall is in charge of the school until then. I hope that you will show her the same respect that you show me. A second announcement saddens me, however, I must report that at the end of this school year, Draco Malfoy will be leaving the school. We wish him the best fortune wherever he may go. Finally, would Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Mr Greenstone come to the Great Hall immediately. Thank you..."
"Oh, man!" Harry said... "What have we done now?" They left the library accompanied by sniggers from the other students...
As it turned out, Dumbledore wanted to tell them some excellent news... He greeted them standing in the middle of the hall with a dog sitting with him. Harry recognised his Godfather immediately, but waited for Dumbledore to speak.
"Harry, I'm going to be at the ministry of magic for a few days, Padfoot's going to be cleared of his crimes. I don't want you to get too excited though. I have to tell you all that Sirius is going to move into one of the cottages in Hogsmeade, and because you have all shown impeccable behaviour over the past month, and the year, with the exception of that one unfortunate incident I will allow you to go to Hogsmeade once a month."
"Professor, I don't know what to say..." Harry said.
"A simple thank you will be sufficient."
"Thank you, sir..." The three chorused.
"You must be on your way to class now... Take this note to Professor Snape. It explains you absence for this time..."
Harry had almost forgotten that they had potions... Thank goodness they had a note that Snape couldn't argue with... They thanked Dumbledore again, stroked Padfoot a couple of times, playfully, then left the hall, feeling much better about themselves.
Snape glared at them as they entered. "Potter. What do you mean by this?" He asked in a piercing, cold tone... Harry smiled, strode towards Snape and handed him the note while Marcus and Ron sat. He stared at Snape's eyes as he read the letter.
"Potter, sit down." Snape said with venom.
"Yes sir." Harry replied, slightly cheekily.
"Now, where were we before the terrible trio so rudely interrupted us?"
As usual, Hermionie's hand shot to the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape said, obviously tired that Hermionie was always there to answer any question.
"You were telling us how the Kentara Leaf can help to heal natural wounds."
"Thank you Miss Granger."
"The Kentara Leaf is usually found in high ground, among moss. Muggles cannot tell the difference, however if you rub it into a cut, then it will quicken the healing process. It will sting quite badly, but you'll be grateful for it when your blood comes pouring from your veins." He seemed to direct the last sentence specifically at Harry, who felt that Snape would never improve...
After the lesson, Harry risked a conversation with Draco.
"Draco, where are you going next year?" He asked, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
"None of your business. My father wants me as far away from you as possible. He says you're unstable, and Voldermort would come for you above all others. He doesn't want me to be in the way when Voldermort comes for you."
"I suppose he would know Voldermort's plans quite well, since he's still allied with him."
"Potter, I won't have those kind of accusations in my corridors, ten points from Gryffindor." Snape always came in at the wrong time. Harry thought better than to argue, even as Malfoy smiled suspiciously.
"I wonder if Draco would consider taking Snape with him?" Marcus asked later.
"I wish" Harry and Ron replied.
"Well, I think something is seriously suspicious with Malfoy." Marcus ended.
"Really, you think? He always seemed so nice to me!" Harry was more sarcastic than usual today.
"I mean it, his Dad's a death eater, Voldermort's risen, people are suspiciously disappearing and suddenly he declares he's leaving... That stinks of foul play."
"Well there's very little we can do about it isn't there?" Ron asked.
"I guess. But we should keep our eyes open..."
"Isn't that our school motto? Keep your eyes open" Harry laughed. It may have been a joke, but it was truly a phrase they had to keep in mind...
Weeks passed at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Marcus seemed to be forgiven, but their actions were not forgotten. They seemed to be mostly alone when not in classes, but it didn't bother them because of their ongoing research into the disappearances. Finally they found something. Ron almost shouted when he discovered it.
"Check this out!" he forced into a loud whisper. "It says here that the knights have managed to create an area in Scotland were no magic can be performed, it's a two mile square area surrounding this huge hill on top of which they live in a castle not dissimilar to Hogwarts. Their customs are similar to medieval England. They are skilled knights, and when they have been encountered in combat, they usually come out victorious..."
"This is exactly what we need..." Harry decided. "We know enough about them now... We can finally go and do something."
"Not really..." Marcus put in. "You heard what he said, there's no chance we can go and fight our way in and bring Cho out..."
"What else can we do?" Harry asked, but the response was muted by an announcement which filled the castle. It was Dumbledore.
"Your attention please... I will be away from school until Friday this week, and so Professor McGonnagall is in charge of the school until then. I hope that you will show her the same respect that you show me. A second announcement saddens me, however, I must report that at the end of this school year, Draco Malfoy will be leaving the school. We wish him the best fortune wherever he may go. Finally, would Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Mr Greenstone come to the Great Hall immediately. Thank you..."
"Oh, man!" Harry said... "What have we done now?" They left the library accompanied by sniggers from the other students...
As it turned out, Dumbledore wanted to tell them some excellent news... He greeted them standing in the middle of the hall with a dog sitting with him. Harry recognised his Godfather immediately, but waited for Dumbledore to speak.
"Harry, I'm going to be at the ministry of magic for a few days, Padfoot's going to be cleared of his crimes. I don't want you to get too excited though. I have to tell you all that Sirius is going to move into one of the cottages in Hogsmeade, and because you have all shown impeccable behaviour over the past month, and the year, with the exception of that one unfortunate incident I will allow you to go to Hogsmeade once a month."
"Professor, I don't know what to say..." Harry said.
"A simple thank you will be sufficient."
"Thank you, sir..." The three chorused.
"You must be on your way to class now... Take this note to Professor Snape. It explains you absence for this time..."
Harry had almost forgotten that they had potions... Thank goodness they had a note that Snape couldn't argue with... They thanked Dumbledore again, stroked Padfoot a couple of times, playfully, then left the hall, feeling much better about themselves.
Snape glared at them as they entered. "Potter. What do you mean by this?" He asked in a piercing, cold tone... Harry smiled, strode towards Snape and handed him the note while Marcus and Ron sat. He stared at Snape's eyes as he read the letter.
"Potter, sit down." Snape said with venom.
"Yes sir." Harry replied, slightly cheekily.
"Now, where were we before the terrible trio so rudely interrupted us?"
As usual, Hermionie's hand shot to the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape said, obviously tired that Hermionie was always there to answer any question.
"You were telling us how the Kentara Leaf can help to heal natural wounds."
"Thank you Miss Granger."
"The Kentara Leaf is usually found in high ground, among moss. Muggles cannot tell the difference, however if you rub it into a cut, then it will quicken the healing process. It will sting quite badly, but you'll be grateful for it when your blood comes pouring from your veins." He seemed to direct the last sentence specifically at Harry, who felt that Snape would never improve...
After the lesson, Harry risked a conversation with Draco.
"Draco, where are you going next year?" He asked, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
"None of your business. My father wants me as far away from you as possible. He says you're unstable, and Voldermort would come for you above all others. He doesn't want me to be in the way when Voldermort comes for you."
"I suppose he would know Voldermort's plans quite well, since he's still allied with him."
"Potter, I won't have those kind of accusations in my corridors, ten points from Gryffindor." Snape always came in at the wrong time. Harry thought better than to argue, even as Malfoy smiled suspiciously.
"I wonder if Draco would consider taking Snape with him?" Marcus asked later.
"I wish" Harry and Ron replied.
"Well, I think something is seriously suspicious with Malfoy." Marcus ended.
"Really, you think? He always seemed so nice to me!" Harry was more sarcastic than usual today.
"I mean it, his Dad's a death eater, Voldermort's risen, people are suspiciously disappearing and suddenly he declares he's leaving... That stinks of foul play."
"Well there's very little we can do about it isn't there?" Ron asked.
"I guess. But we should keep our eyes open..."
"Isn't that our school motto? Keep your eyes open" Harry laughed. It may have been a joke, but it was truly a phrase they had to keep in mind...
