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Chapter 30

Harry listen in silence as Gray raged for ten minutes, and kept his face carefully blank as Gray ordered him to go and repair the damage he was supposed to have done to the workroom. Without argument, Harry complied.

'Yes, my lord.'

He bowed his way out of the room, and closed the door behind him. It was only then that he let the groan of agony he had been holding back escape.

Ten minutes later he was on his hands and knees in the room, scrubbing hard at the stone floor. Harry now worked out why he had been forbidden to use magic past fixing the equipment. Every movement sent lancing pain down his body, making each brush-stroke agony.

After a few minutes of this chore he had noticed the cloth of his shirt pulling relentlessly at his wounds. Unable to tolerate this friction, he was forced to take it off, despite the desire to keep his wounds out of sight.

Barely into his task, his wishes were shattered. Coming round the corner on their way to breakfast came a troupe of Hufflepuffs, among them Ernie McMillan and Hannah Abbot. Harry hid his annoyance, and continued scrubbing, determined to ignore them. He was interrupted by Ernie's unsure voice.

'Er, Harry? You do know your backs covered in blood, right?'

Harry grimaced, scrubbing with extra vigour.

'Yes, I was aware of that.'

There was a short pause, and Harry realised eyebrows were being raised.

'.why?'

This time it was Hannah who spoke. Annoyed, Harry straightened up with a flinch and sat back on his heels. His answer was short and precise.

'A punishment. Nothing you need to worry about.'

He looked up only to see half a dozen pairs of eyes looking determinedly back at him. He made an annoyed sound.

'It was Gray. He isn't doing anything illegal. Are you happy now?'

The steely tone to his voice put them off slightly, and they walked hesitantly on, sneaking glances over their shoulders as they went. Harry got back to work, thinking glumly of the rumours that would soon be rocketing around the school. However, it got worse.

Harry had almost finished the scrubbing, but had worked up quite a sweat in the process. Sitting back for a moment, he wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers, feeling a few drops of liquid run down his back. He made no move to halt the flow, knowing there was no point.

He was just bending back over to complete his task when he was startled by a familiar drawling voice.

'Well, well Potter. Someone sure did a number on you.'

It was Malfoy, backed up by a crown of goons that included Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. Harry gritted his teeth before standing up haltingly. There was no way he was going to stay on his knees in front of his nemesis, no matter how painful standing up might be. His retort was cold.

'At least I can take it. You'd be crying like a baby in my place.'

The Slytherins eyes hardened.

'And what would you r place be? Getting whipped by anyone who feels like it?'

Harry grinned, but somehow no one was naive enough to think he was amused.

'What about your father? I'm sure he'd be a dab hand at this.'

'You leave my father out of this.'

The speed of the reply gave Harry his answer. He was satisfied, despite the fact it looked like Crabbe and Goyle were about to advance. It was the voices of the Weasley twins that halted them.

'I wouldn't try it.'

'Unless, of course, you want to be hexed?'

Backing down under wand point, the Slytherins moved away, Malfoy sending Harry a glare as he went. Once they had turned a corner, Fred and George walked into the room, stopping Harry was he picked up the brush once more. They exchanged glances.

'Harry, Gray sent us here to help.'

'We did it. We tried to tell him but.'

'.he just said you should have your accomplices to help you clean up.'

The twins voices were uncomfortable, and betrayed the guilt the twins were clearly feeling.

'That figures. Don't worry about it. Though I could use a hand.'

Harry turned away and knelt back down, flicking two brushed towards the twins. He didn't comment as they stopped, obviously looking at his back. He refused to speak, and let them stare until they were satisfied. Finally swallowing, they joined him on the floor, and quickly helped him finish the job. Next, they started on the surfaces.

By twelve they were done, with only several objects the twins didn't recognise left unfixed. These, Harry knew, were permanently damaged. Fred was just opening his mouth when the door opening made them jump. Harry saw immediately who it was. He bowed, pulling his face into an emotionless mask. George frowned when he saw it.

'My lord.'

Gray regarded the three through expressionless eyes. His lips pursed.

'It seems you have almost finished. I trust you wound the work ample punishment?'

Inwardly seething, Harry bowed gain, hating the man who stood before him.

'Yes, my, lord.'

In the background, Fred and George mumbled positive replies.

'Seeing as you are responsible, Apprentice Aeter, the funds for replacing the equipment you ruined will come from your pocket. Do I make myself clear? I expect replacements within the week, on my desk.'

Fred and George stepped forward simultaneously, about to protest. A single glance from their professor silenced them.

'100 points from Gryffindor. Now get out. unless you wish to receive a similar punishment to your friend?'

A look from Harry sent the twins out of the door. He knew there was no way Gray would do what he'd done to him to the twins, but he wasn't taking any chances. The twins might blame themselves, but Harry knew he was going to have been punished for something, might as well make it worth it. The only thing that really bothered him was that fact that he was still being punished, despite the fact that Gray had undeniable proof that it wasn't actually Harry. Harry hatred towards Gray multiplied as he was addressed.

'Master Shadowman returns tomorrow. I believe he wants you to make some preparations, so you will return to your quarters for the rest of the day. However, I expect to see you in classes as normal this afternoon.'

Harry bowed again, his mind racing with the news Snape was returning.

'Of course, my lord. Thank you, my lord.'

Gray left the room in a flurry of robes, and Harry was left to make his way wearily down to the dungeons. Arriving, he found a very irate Snape waiting for him. Collapsing into a chair, Harry wondered why he had returned early.

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Hope you enjoyed that chapter, as promised there wads a bit of the twins, and more of Gray. I'm not sure when I will update next, though it shouldn't be too long as I've got the ext chapter planned and ready.

Thanks for any reviews, and once again can I beg you to go and read my short story, A Drifting Rose. It won't take very long, and I'd be grateful. Thanks again - Pose