Feallan Steorra
Chapter 10: Educational Research
Author's jibberish: Hm…I got nothing to say, except you readers are perceptive… Oh, yeah. You all know that this takes place during Harry's 5th year, right? Well, say that he was 15 years old in 2002, and that his parents gave birth to him when they were about 30, meaning they graduated Hogwarts in 1960. Why did I bother with all this? Because I have no clue when Harry's birth-year is! I heard it was July 1980, but if anyone know Harry's, or in fact, any other important days (Hermione's, Ron's, Draco's even…), please tell me in an e-mail or review! Thanks!
"This is scary," Ron flipped through the obituaries of the Daily Prophet. He and Harry were sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard. "Do you remember when the obituaries were 5 squares and the rest of the page was wizard puzzles?"
Harry nodded. "Why?"
"Now the count is tripled, and it's not old folks anymore," Ron handed him the paper. "It's people in their 30's and 40's too."
Harry scrolled down the list and found a name that was familiar. "Theodore Wellings…do we know someone of that last name?"
"His son, Claudius, is on the Slytherin team," Ron answered. "In fact," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "I heard his dad was a You-Know-Who follower all those years back."
"His father died a week ago," Harry noted. "No wonder I haven't seen him around."
"Hey Harry? Do you think our parents influence what House we belong to? Well, besides the muggle-borns, of course," Ron asked. "My parents were in Gryffindor, so were yours…Do you think that's a pattern?"
Harry
shrugged. "Maybe…why?"
Ron's eyes lit as if he was
struck by an idea square between the eyes. "Come on, we got to go to the
library." He gathered the rest of the paper and sped at top speed, leaving
Harry behind, struggling to catch up.
They entered the library. "What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"Research," Ron headed to a room with each wall filled with hardbound books. "Hmm…" he headed to the less dusty books. "1970…sounds like a good year…" he pulled out a book with that year scrolled down the spine. He opened it and turned to Harry. "Don't just stand there; help me out."
"I would if I knew what you were up to," Harry said, pulling out the book 1971.
"This room is full of yearbooks, and each book categorizes each person by house. If Morell's parents went to Hogwarts, we can find out the kind of person he'll be. I mean, look at Malfoy."
Harry nodded. He looked in the index for 'Morell.' They searched for about two hours. Harry's eyes were spinning; the index print was so small.
"Here!" Ron said, showing the book 1960. He pointed to a picture of a boy of 17, with blue eyes and blond hair. He wasn't smiling; he had a smug dignified Percy-like look to him.
"That's him alright," Harry said. "They look so much alike."
"David Morell was in Slytherin…" Ron said, pointing to the Slytherin crest on the pages. "And look." He flipped to another part of the book, where the crest of a lion was next to the page numbers. A few faces and names were familiar to Harry; they seemed to pop out at him: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter.
"David Morell graduated the same year as my dad," Harry said out loud.
"And Professor Lupin," Ron added.
Suddenly, the same idea came to them.
Ron and Harry ran up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who sat in his classroom. "Professor?" Ron called.
"Ah," Professor Lupin looked up from the piles of parchment. "Ron, Harry, what can I do for you?"
"This…is going to sound awk--," Harry began.
"Do you remember who David Morell is?" Ron interrupted.
His forehead furrowed in thought. "Morell…Why do you ask?"
Ron
shrugged. "Just curious?"
Professor Lupin gave them a
curious look. "He graduated the same year as I; very smart but quiet; loads of
O.W.L.'s and many N.E.W.T.'s."
"What became of him after Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure…although…"
"Yes?" Ron and Harry chimed in unison.
Professor Lupin gave them a regretful look. "He was later accused of killing 2 people in Hungary. He was cleared though; claimed he was under a Confudus Charm."
"Why would he be accused of murder anyway?" Harry asked.
Professor Lupin took a moment before he answered. "It was said that Morell was a follower of Lord Voldemort."
Ron and Harry exchanged worried glances.
Just then, Professor Snape came in with a jar. His sneer was there, as usual, as he entered the classroom.
"Ah, Severus," Professor Lupin rose as if nothing was abnormal. "Thank you very much."
Snape's eyebrow twitched in response.
"Help!" someone screamed through the hallway. It caused everyone to turn their heads. They stepped out and saw Pansy Parkinson scurry towards them. "Professor Snape! Professor Snape!"
"Calm down, you silly girl," he coldly told her. "What is the meaning of this?"
"It's Draco…" she panted. "Draco Malfoy…he's…"
"Will he be alright?" Professor Dumbledore asked Madam Pomfrey.
"I've never seen anything like it Professor," Madam Pomfrey shuddered. "Dark magic…it's almost surreal. Have his parents been notified?"
"Severus is taking care of that."
"What will happen? This is Lucius Malfoy we're talking about…"
"All we can do is try to find out who or what did this to his son."
Ron and Harry managed to peer through the ajar door. "I can't see him…" Ron complained. "What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "Whatever it is, it turned Parkinson to tears."
They shut up when they heard Madam Pomfrey say "Look, he's awake."
Draco sat up from the bed, coming into full view to Ron and Harry.
Dumbledore stood beside him. "Hello Draco."
Draco looked up, giving him a warning look.
"Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco opened his mouth, sneering. But he didn't respond. Puzzled, he opened his mouth again to speak. He did it again. Horror painted his features.
Not a sound came out of Draco Malfoy's mouth.
