Chapter Sixteen
The Curse
Harry slung his bag over his shoulder. And yet.perhaps he should drop the bag because he has too much on his shoulders already. the prophecy. Sirius. Cedric. Mrs. Pettigrew. Angel. whether or not he should tell Neville and Ginny and Hermione and Ron and Luna and Miley even Mark the truth. and being scared of his father's memory. He was 16 years old. and he was dealing with more than most people dream about even in the craziest of dreams. He was being targeted by the most powerful dark wizard alive, he was being weighed down by a haunting truth and he didn't know who to trust. What a time for Sirius to die. Harry could have told him. Harry could have talked to him about Neville, the prophecy, his father even his unsure feelings about Angel. That was a whole other problem; as much as Harry wanted to trust her and talk her about things to her, he couldn't help but be scared of her. There was an odd hatred living behind her eyes that burned for a very small second every time Harry looked in them. Her smile was mostly fake and her laughter was blinking to form into tears. Harry was surprised she just didn't fall to her knees and scream. And it all added up to one thing. him.
Harry was so lost in thought that he didn't notice where he was walking. He was somewhere far away from Gryffindor Tower. He messed with his hair and turned around. This doesn't look familiar. but then again it did. It was like he saw this corridor in a dream. maybe a nightmare. Which ever it was, Harry's feet carried him down the hall.
A door was cracked open at the end of the passage and what seemed like blue light was streaming from it. Harry pushed the door open. It was an empty class room. Desks were turned over and blanked with spider webs and cob webs. Dusk was laddered on in inches and the windows were boarded up with molding wood. The stench made Harry wrinkle his noise, and he thought of turning back but then he saw it.
In the farthest away corner sat the Mirror of Erised.
Harry gulped as though he had just seen a ghost. All the warmth and color drained for Harry's face. No, no, no! The last thing he wanted to do was look into the face of his family. he couldn't look his father in the eyes after the things that rolled though Harry's mind about James Potter. He couldn't look at his parents and know it was his fault that he was standing here breathing and they only existed in a mirror. But his feet walked without command.
His eyes gazed upon the mirror, tear forming behind his eyes, preparing for what is to come. The scene had changed from that late winter night five years ago. Then there was a crowd of people, some with his knobby knee and big hands, or some with his mouth and body build. and then his mum with his eyes and dad with his hairs. but most of those people were gone.
Harry gasped for breath and he only managed a rasp. There standing before him was his parents of course, but they were older. not the twenty year olds he knew from pictures, but about what they would look like if they were still alive. They were both smiling and Lily's eye's twinkled a bit. James gave a dashing smile, one Harry remembered perfectly from Snape's memory. Standing behind them were Lupin and Sirius. Lupin looked younger, his gray wasn't so bad and he was smiling a true smile, something Harry had never seen before. And Sirius. his hair was shorter and it danced elegantly in his eyes. He was smiling so broad his face might have cracked any moment and his eyes; his eyes danced in laughter and sang with smiles. He had his arm draped over an Angel, whose eyes matched his laughter. Standing behind them was Cedric; he messed with his hair a bit and winked at Harry.
He didn't know how long he stood their and didn't care. He gazed upon each face, memorizing each smile and glee in their eyes. It was a while before he looked upon himself in the mirror. He accepted to see himself exactly as he stood, but he was different. His hair was messier, his eyes were brighter, he held his head higher. and he didn't have a scar. Harry turned away from the mirror and ran from the room without another look.
He half accepted to see Neville standing there with a lighting bolt on his forehead. He couldn't take it. then it was true. he truly did want it to have been Neville. there was no denying it and that talk he had with Angel. she wasn't tricking him, she was bring out the truth, something Harry wasn't very well acquainted with yet.
He ran from a ghost that followed him ever where, and no matter how fast he made his feet carry him, the ghost lingered close behind. But still he ran. Down the corridor and the stairs, and he was headed for the Great Doors. He needed clean air, a fresh breeze would do him good. But then he crashed into someone. Two tiny arms enclosed around his back as they both stammered and surprisingly, they kept balance.
"Harry?" It was Hermione. She was about half as scared as he was. As much as Harry wanted to just cry on her shoulder and have someone there to pat him on the head telling him everything was going to be okay. he refused to cry. Crying was a weakness and he couldn't be weak. everything in the world depended on him being strong. He jumped away.
"Harry, you look awful!" Hermione said, holding her hand to her neck, catching her breath. "You look like you just saw a ghost!"
"What's so scary about that?" Ron said; he was standing to the side, laughing at the situation. "Geeze, mate. you're sweating like a pig? You been running?"
"Yeah. yeah. running. couldn't. find you." Harry lied, panting.
"Well, we were going to go visit Hagrid." Hermione said, straightening over her robes now.
"Yeah, sure, I'm coming." And the three of left the castle, making their way across the grounds to a tiny little hut outside the forest.
"Oie, there!" Hagrid called, opening his door. "I was wanderin' were yer lot would come visitin'."
"Hello Hagrid!" Hermione chimed.
"Hello Hermione." Hagrid nodded, letting them in the house. "Harry, you look awful!"
"So I've heard." Harry fell into a chair.
"What's wrong mate?" Ron sat down beside him.
"So, tea I s'pose?" Hagrid said, closing the door.
"No, fire whiskey." Harry grunted.
"Oh now, is that right?" Hagrid chuckled. "I wouldn't give that to yer unless you really needed it."
"I do."
"Why's that?"
"Nevermind."
"Oh, I'll help you with tea Hagrid." Hermione said, dancing away from the situation. If Hermione wasn't Hermione, Harry would have jumped up and kissed her for it too.
"So, tell me what's wrong." Ron repeated.
"No."
"Why not? We only want to help you. You look pretty beat up by it too."
"No, Ron."
"The Harry I used to know told me everything."
"Well the Harry you used to know didn't know anything."
"Boys, please not here." Hermione interrupted, eying Hagrid for his reaction.
"Harry," Ron continued ignoring Hermione. "Why not just tell us?"
"Because I can't! I feel bad enough as it is, but other people knowing it will make it worse, now leave me alone!"
"Harry, that ain't no way ter talk to yer friends. They only want to help." Hagrid said, trying to act happy.
"Yeah, well they need to find some other way to help me because this is MY battle."
"How can we help you if we don't know what's wrong?"
"Just drop it please, I'm not going to tell you, bottom line."
Hermione placed the tea cups in front of everyone and eyed
Harry sadly. "Don't you trust us any more?"
"It's not that. exactly. it's more of a."
"You don't trust us!" Ron cried. "Why the hell not? What did we do to lose your trust?"
"No one has my trust. no one alive that is." Harry yelled back.
"Who has your trust than? Huh?" Ron said.
"Sirius did, and Sirius will forever! I can't tell you half the shit I can tell him. He would understand, he wouldn't ask stupid questions and debate with me, he."
".is dead Harry." Hermione said softly.
"Shut up!" Harry screamed. He pushed away from the table, stood up nosily and stormed out the door, feeling three pairs of eyes (four if you count Fang) baring into him.
He didn't know what to do with himself. he didn't feel up for homework, it was too early to pretend to go to bed and he had no one else he could go to. or that he wanted to go to. He found his way automatically to the Great Hall, but that is as far as he got by himself.
"Harry!" Not again, Harry thought to himself and he turned around. But it wasn't Hermione or Ron running after him, it was Cornelius Fudge the Minister of Magic.
"Minster!" Harry gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry business Harry, sorry business. Now, if you would please escort me to the Head Masters and I won't be here long." Fudge snatched up Harry's arm and drug him down the corridor.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Harry said as politely as he could, but he knew it sounded mean.
"You will find out soon enough Harry." And Fudge continued to drag Harry. They were followed by none other then Percy Weasley and Dolores Umbridge.
"Minister please, I have feet of my own." Harry cried, trying to jerk back his arm.
"Yes, but you Potter, always seem to have a knack for slipping though fingers." Percy said, his eyes narrowing on him. Harry's scar gave a tiny sting and he squinted at him.
"Best be careful Weasley, I haven't forgotten your secret." Harry said nastily.
"What are you talking about Potter?" Umbridge said in her fake high pitch innocent squeal.
"And I know yours Umbridge." Harry added with a cocky smile.
"Harry, please, this isn't about them." Fudge said coolly. "Well here we are. now what was that pass word. damn."
"Stag Minister." Umbridge said sweetly, or trying to be sweet. Harry's heart gave a tiny leap. stag.
"Right." Fudge said, "Stag." And the gargoyle began to move.
Fudge drug Harry to Dumbledore's office, Percy and Umbridge following close behind. "Minster. well, what a surprise." Dumbledore said. "And I see you brought Harry around with you."
"Well, it is about him Albus." Fudge said, throwing Harry into a seat.
"And what has he done?"
"Don't play dumb, you very good and damn well that Harry used an Unforgivable Curse!"
"Oh, did he?" Dumbledore said, looking at Harry. Harry smile slightly at the look in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes, he did. and I can't let that go unpunished." Fudge said a- matter-of-factly.
"WHAT?" Harry jumped up. "I'm going to be punished!"
"Naturally. Just because you're Dumbledore's favorite boy doesn't mean that the rest of us will let you slid by." Percy chimed.
"Well, I seem to 'slip' by you very easily Weasley." Harry said, eyes turning on Percy, "You might want to practice those defending spells, you fall pretty hard."
Percy turned a shade of pink.
"Harry please," Dumbledore said, looking at him with a little more concern. "What do you plan on doing to him Cornelius?"
"Not sure yet. but I need to understand the story first."
"You don't even know what happened and you're down here threatening me." Harry said, turning his glare to Fudge.
"Well, you see, parents that were on the Platform September First were talking about how you used to Cruriotus Curse on someone. Praising you, some saying they plan on teaching it to their children and.."
"I think that is the right idea." Dumbledore interrupted.
"Excuse me Head Master." Fudge said, thunderstruck, "But teaching our youth the Unforgivable Curses is not the right idea."
"Actually, I believe it is. Dark Wizards and witches plan on using them on our youth at some point in time. Why shouldn't our youth know how to fight back and exactly what they are getting hit with?"
"We'll talk about this later." Fudge waved Dumbledore off. "Now, Harry. tell me what happened."
Harry looked at Dumbledore and he nodded. Harry sighed, and turned to Fudge. "We were on the Platform. I was with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mark, Charlie, Angel."
"Did you stay with the Weasley's over the summer?" Percy asked, edgily.
"Does it matter?" Harry said with an odd frown that Percy referred to his own family like that. "Anyway, there had been an explosion before we got on the platform so when we did get on the platform kids were screaming and stuff. Well, The teachers.."
"Teachers. what were they doing on Platform 9 and ¾?" Umbridge asked with a nastily smirk on her face.
"They were.err.they were. actually I don't know what they were doing there, I just know they were." Harry lied, not knowing if he should tell them about the Order, especially Percy.
"They were doing something for me August 31 in London, and were taking the train back here." Dumbledore said plainly, "What they were doing and why is between the teachers and myself."
"Anyway," Harry said quickly before any one could say anything against Dumbledore, "Right before I got on the train there was another explosion and it ended up being about ten Death Eaters." Harry eyed Percy and all the color had drained from his face.
"Yes, we know. ten Death Eaters were spotted on the Platform, now get to the part were you used that curse." Fudge said impatiently.
"Yes, sir. well. it was right after they got there. Charlie had just gotten Ron and Ginny on the train and." Harry concentrated on that event. he couldn't say it out loud. "Bellatrix Lestrange."
"What about her?" Umbridge snapped.
"That's who I curse you two face, thick, old git!" Harry screamed.
"That is uncalled for Harry." Fudge said softly.
"Continue Harry." Dumbledore said smiling at him. Umbridge had turned pink.
"Well, she started talking about how she killed Sirius and."
"Well, maybe she should be let off then. got rid of one of those hoodlums." Umbridge piped.
"SHUT UP YOU OLD WIND BAG BEFORE I MAKE YOU!" Harry screamed.
"And you will be expelled for it you stupid little runt." Umbridge yelled.
"Well, seeing you squirm might be worth it!"
"Harry, please, ignore Dolores. and Dolores, if Harry doesn't hex you, I'm afraid I will." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Well, I cursed her and it didn't last too long and she started to curse me and then Angel cursed her." Harry continued. "After I got Neville onto the train I heard Angel scream and I went to help her and Lestrange cursed me again." A sharp pain came to him in remembering that, but it left quickly.
"Why didn't she kill you?" Percy said sternly.
"Because Trawnley saved me." Harry said simply. Yes, Trawnley saved him, but who was saving her.
"Yes, well, I'd like to talk to Sibyl. if that's okay." Fudge said.
"Can't, they took her." Harry covered his mouth. It just accrued to him the Minister didn't know and possible wasn't supposed to know. He looked over at Dumbledore, but he seemed not to care.
"They kidnapped Sibyl. and why didn't you tell me this Albus?" Fudge whined.
"Your Auror already know and are already working on it. It seemed that you had more important things to do, such as convicting Mr. Potter here, than dealing with a Death Eater's kidnap."
Fudge turned red, redder than anyone. "I can't let it go unnoted. Using magic in front of Muggles, blowing up his aunt, help hiding a convicted murder and that little show he put on last year. I'm sorry Albus, but I have to do something."
"That was the house elf that used the magic, I blew up my aunt because she was talking ill about my dad, I hid Sirius because you would have killed him and it was her fault I had to use magic last summer." Harry pointed a finger at Umbridge.
"I did nothing of the sort." She started to turn white, then pink, then green.
"Tell them Dolores; tell your Minister what you did." Dumbledore said softly.
Umbridge looked at him then looked at Fudge, then back to Dumbledore. "Well, I." She turned to Fudge again. "Now don't be angry with me Minister. I did it for you. I. err. I kinda sent the Dementors after Potter last summer. just to get him out of the way. he was lying and making you look bad."
"Sorry Cornelius, but Harry wasn't lying and you were making your self look bad enough with out our help." Dumbledore said kindly.
"YOU WHAT?" Fudge cried, staring at Umbridge. "YOU SENT TWO DEMENTORS AFTER A BOY AND VOTED FOR HIS EXPELLSION WHEN HE TOLD THE TRUTH. YOU TACKLESS, NASTILY LITTLE WOMEN!" Fudge screamed. "Okay, okay, okay," Fudge soothed himself. "Harry, Dumbledore I have to get this back to the Minister and prosecuted." he jabbed his thumb at Umbridge, "I will be back Sunday evening with a couple more workers and we will straighten this out. for now, Harry you are suspended."
"You can't do that!" Harry said firmly.
"Harry, you won't miss class and when you come off clean, the suspension will be dropped." Dumbledore said softly. "I'll see you Sunday Minister." Fudge, Umbridge and Percy left the office.
"Professor, Percy is a." Harry said as soon as the door shut.
"I know Harry." Dumbledore said sadly. "But he's fighting himself enough to have us jump in on him."
"What?"
"Harry. he'll do the right thing, even if the right thing isn't what's right for us."
Harry was speechless. He look at Dumbledore and then at his feet. He messed with his hair and left. The right thing for him wasn't what was right for someone else. Just because it wasn't right for him to be lied to doesn't make it right for him to lie to his friends. Was Dumbledore talking to him or Percy? Harry decided, he was going to go back to Hadrig's and talk to them about whatever it was they wanted to know.
"CHARLIE STOP!" Someone yelled. Harry's eyes got big and he began to run toward to nose. Charlie Weasley was in the entrance hall. His red hair was falling into his face and he had Percy pinned against the wall, gripping his neck.
Percy was now red face, his hands holding his brother wrist. "Char.lie. stop. please." He gasped.
"You big headed git!" Charlie yelled. "You don't even deserve to belong to the name!"
"Charlie, please." Angel took hold of his arm and tried to pull it away.
"Mr. Weasley, now, this is not appropriate behavior." Fudge said, staring at Charlie.
"Minister, bug off. my little brother needs the fire whipped out of him." Charlie said sternly.
"Charlie, you know I don't want to do this, but if you don't let him go." Angel raised her wand on Charlie.
He turned his face to hers and in such a small time the expression changed from loath and betrayal. "You'd curse me? I thought you hated him too."
"Of course I hate the little sneak, but killing him won't do much good. He's made his decision and there is nothing we can do about it." Angel put her wand back in her robes, took grip of Charlie's hand and pulled it away from Percy's neck.
Charlie looked at Percy on last time, and then looked away sharply. "Harry how long have you been standing there?" Angel asked, looking at him.
"I heard you scream. saw most of it." Harry stammered.
"Look what you've done now Weasley; introduced the child to fighting." Fudge throwing his hands in the air.
"Harry's no child and he's fought worse fights than this Minister." Charlie shot back, pushing his brother toward Fudge and away from him.
"Err.Minister where is Dolores?" Angel asked.
"Right." Fudge turned around. The plump lady that was standing behind him, shaking in fear was gone. "Where did she go?" Charlie and Angel looked at one another and ran to the front door. A fat little figure was running down the grounds.
"GET HER BEFORE SHE GETS INTO THE FORREST, WE WILL NEVER FIND HER IF SHE DOES!" Fudge ordered his tiny figure racing down the ground.
"Minister, she won't go in the forest. too scared. centaurs." Angel called after him. Umbridge was down the path and passed the gates now. She could apparate as soon as she got on the country side.
"Damn." Fudge breathed. "Come along Perky let's get back to the Ministry, need to report her." Fudge grabbed Percy's arm and drug him down, slowly this time, the grounds.
"Yes, do have fun Perk!" Charlie yelled after him. Percy's ears went pink.
"You two going to the Order?"
"Yeah," Angel said, pulling her hand through her hair, "Fights and killings keep popping up more and more."
"Anything I can do to help?" Harry asked.
"Keep an eye on Miley for me." Angel answered.
"Yeah, for precious little Krum." Charlie said nastily.
"I told you we were just friends. And Miley is my friend too." Angel threaded her arm in Charlie's and started walking toward the front door. "Bye Harry." And they both disappeared through the front door.
Harry gave a weak smile and waved to the wood. Hermione and Ron hit it off perfect as friends and really didn't need him did they. Ginny always had her friends and Luna, Mark was fitting in fine with the Gryffindor first years and the one person Harry felt one and the same with, Angel, had Charlie to fall on. So, who did Harry have? He was something cursed.
Harry slung his bag over his shoulder. And yet.perhaps he should drop the bag because he has too much on his shoulders already. the prophecy. Sirius. Cedric. Mrs. Pettigrew. Angel. whether or not he should tell Neville and Ginny and Hermione and Ron and Luna and Miley even Mark the truth. and being scared of his father's memory. He was 16 years old. and he was dealing with more than most people dream about even in the craziest of dreams. He was being targeted by the most powerful dark wizard alive, he was being weighed down by a haunting truth and he didn't know who to trust. What a time for Sirius to die. Harry could have told him. Harry could have talked to him about Neville, the prophecy, his father even his unsure feelings about Angel. That was a whole other problem; as much as Harry wanted to trust her and talk her about things to her, he couldn't help but be scared of her. There was an odd hatred living behind her eyes that burned for a very small second every time Harry looked in them. Her smile was mostly fake and her laughter was blinking to form into tears. Harry was surprised she just didn't fall to her knees and scream. And it all added up to one thing. him.
Harry was so lost in thought that he didn't notice where he was walking. He was somewhere far away from Gryffindor Tower. He messed with his hair and turned around. This doesn't look familiar. but then again it did. It was like he saw this corridor in a dream. maybe a nightmare. Which ever it was, Harry's feet carried him down the hall.
A door was cracked open at the end of the passage and what seemed like blue light was streaming from it. Harry pushed the door open. It was an empty class room. Desks were turned over and blanked with spider webs and cob webs. Dusk was laddered on in inches and the windows were boarded up with molding wood. The stench made Harry wrinkle his noise, and he thought of turning back but then he saw it.
In the farthest away corner sat the Mirror of Erised.
Harry gulped as though he had just seen a ghost. All the warmth and color drained for Harry's face. No, no, no! The last thing he wanted to do was look into the face of his family. he couldn't look his father in the eyes after the things that rolled though Harry's mind about James Potter. He couldn't look at his parents and know it was his fault that he was standing here breathing and they only existed in a mirror. But his feet walked without command.
His eyes gazed upon the mirror, tear forming behind his eyes, preparing for what is to come. The scene had changed from that late winter night five years ago. Then there was a crowd of people, some with his knobby knee and big hands, or some with his mouth and body build. and then his mum with his eyes and dad with his hairs. but most of those people were gone.
Harry gasped for breath and he only managed a rasp. There standing before him was his parents of course, but they were older. not the twenty year olds he knew from pictures, but about what they would look like if they were still alive. They were both smiling and Lily's eye's twinkled a bit. James gave a dashing smile, one Harry remembered perfectly from Snape's memory. Standing behind them were Lupin and Sirius. Lupin looked younger, his gray wasn't so bad and he was smiling a true smile, something Harry had never seen before. And Sirius. his hair was shorter and it danced elegantly in his eyes. He was smiling so broad his face might have cracked any moment and his eyes; his eyes danced in laughter and sang with smiles. He had his arm draped over an Angel, whose eyes matched his laughter. Standing behind them was Cedric; he messed with his hair a bit and winked at Harry.
He didn't know how long he stood their and didn't care. He gazed upon each face, memorizing each smile and glee in their eyes. It was a while before he looked upon himself in the mirror. He accepted to see himself exactly as he stood, but he was different. His hair was messier, his eyes were brighter, he held his head higher. and he didn't have a scar. Harry turned away from the mirror and ran from the room without another look.
He half accepted to see Neville standing there with a lighting bolt on his forehead. He couldn't take it. then it was true. he truly did want it to have been Neville. there was no denying it and that talk he had with Angel. she wasn't tricking him, she was bring out the truth, something Harry wasn't very well acquainted with yet.
He ran from a ghost that followed him ever where, and no matter how fast he made his feet carry him, the ghost lingered close behind. But still he ran. Down the corridor and the stairs, and he was headed for the Great Doors. He needed clean air, a fresh breeze would do him good. But then he crashed into someone. Two tiny arms enclosed around his back as they both stammered and surprisingly, they kept balance.
"Harry?" It was Hermione. She was about half as scared as he was. As much as Harry wanted to just cry on her shoulder and have someone there to pat him on the head telling him everything was going to be okay. he refused to cry. Crying was a weakness and he couldn't be weak. everything in the world depended on him being strong. He jumped away.
"Harry, you look awful!" Hermione said, holding her hand to her neck, catching her breath. "You look like you just saw a ghost!"
"What's so scary about that?" Ron said; he was standing to the side, laughing at the situation. "Geeze, mate. you're sweating like a pig? You been running?"
"Yeah. yeah. running. couldn't. find you." Harry lied, panting.
"Well, we were going to go visit Hagrid." Hermione said, straightening over her robes now.
"Yeah, sure, I'm coming." And the three of left the castle, making their way across the grounds to a tiny little hut outside the forest.
"Oie, there!" Hagrid called, opening his door. "I was wanderin' were yer lot would come visitin'."
"Hello Hagrid!" Hermione chimed.
"Hello Hermione." Hagrid nodded, letting them in the house. "Harry, you look awful!"
"So I've heard." Harry fell into a chair.
"What's wrong mate?" Ron sat down beside him.
"So, tea I s'pose?" Hagrid said, closing the door.
"No, fire whiskey." Harry grunted.
"Oh now, is that right?" Hagrid chuckled. "I wouldn't give that to yer unless you really needed it."
"I do."
"Why's that?"
"Nevermind."
"Oh, I'll help you with tea Hagrid." Hermione said, dancing away from the situation. If Hermione wasn't Hermione, Harry would have jumped up and kissed her for it too.
"So, tell me what's wrong." Ron repeated.
"No."
"Why not? We only want to help you. You look pretty beat up by it too."
"No, Ron."
"The Harry I used to know told me everything."
"Well the Harry you used to know didn't know anything."
"Boys, please not here." Hermione interrupted, eying Hagrid for his reaction.
"Harry," Ron continued ignoring Hermione. "Why not just tell us?"
"Because I can't! I feel bad enough as it is, but other people knowing it will make it worse, now leave me alone!"
"Harry, that ain't no way ter talk to yer friends. They only want to help." Hagrid said, trying to act happy.
"Yeah, well they need to find some other way to help me because this is MY battle."
"How can we help you if we don't know what's wrong?"
"Just drop it please, I'm not going to tell you, bottom line."
Hermione placed the tea cups in front of everyone and eyed
Harry sadly. "Don't you trust us any more?"
"It's not that. exactly. it's more of a."
"You don't trust us!" Ron cried. "Why the hell not? What did we do to lose your trust?"
"No one has my trust. no one alive that is." Harry yelled back.
"Who has your trust than? Huh?" Ron said.
"Sirius did, and Sirius will forever! I can't tell you half the shit I can tell him. He would understand, he wouldn't ask stupid questions and debate with me, he."
".is dead Harry." Hermione said softly.
"Shut up!" Harry screamed. He pushed away from the table, stood up nosily and stormed out the door, feeling three pairs of eyes (four if you count Fang) baring into him.
He didn't know what to do with himself. he didn't feel up for homework, it was too early to pretend to go to bed and he had no one else he could go to. or that he wanted to go to. He found his way automatically to the Great Hall, but that is as far as he got by himself.
"Harry!" Not again, Harry thought to himself and he turned around. But it wasn't Hermione or Ron running after him, it was Cornelius Fudge the Minister of Magic.
"Minster!" Harry gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry business Harry, sorry business. Now, if you would please escort me to the Head Masters and I won't be here long." Fudge snatched up Harry's arm and drug him down the corridor.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." Harry said as politely as he could, but he knew it sounded mean.
"You will find out soon enough Harry." And Fudge continued to drag Harry. They were followed by none other then Percy Weasley and Dolores Umbridge.
"Minister please, I have feet of my own." Harry cried, trying to jerk back his arm.
"Yes, but you Potter, always seem to have a knack for slipping though fingers." Percy said, his eyes narrowing on him. Harry's scar gave a tiny sting and he squinted at him.
"Best be careful Weasley, I haven't forgotten your secret." Harry said nastily.
"What are you talking about Potter?" Umbridge said in her fake high pitch innocent squeal.
"And I know yours Umbridge." Harry added with a cocky smile.
"Harry, please, this isn't about them." Fudge said coolly. "Well here we are. now what was that pass word. damn."
"Stag Minister." Umbridge said sweetly, or trying to be sweet. Harry's heart gave a tiny leap. stag.
"Right." Fudge said, "Stag." And the gargoyle began to move.
Fudge drug Harry to Dumbledore's office, Percy and Umbridge following close behind. "Minster. well, what a surprise." Dumbledore said. "And I see you brought Harry around with you."
"Well, it is about him Albus." Fudge said, throwing Harry into a seat.
"And what has he done?"
"Don't play dumb, you very good and damn well that Harry used an Unforgivable Curse!"
"Oh, did he?" Dumbledore said, looking at Harry. Harry smile slightly at the look in Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes, he did. and I can't let that go unpunished." Fudge said a- matter-of-factly.
"WHAT?" Harry jumped up. "I'm going to be punished!"
"Naturally. Just because you're Dumbledore's favorite boy doesn't mean that the rest of us will let you slid by." Percy chimed.
"Well, I seem to 'slip' by you very easily Weasley." Harry said, eyes turning on Percy, "You might want to practice those defending spells, you fall pretty hard."
Percy turned a shade of pink.
"Harry please," Dumbledore said, looking at him with a little more concern. "What do you plan on doing to him Cornelius?"
"Not sure yet. but I need to understand the story first."
"You don't even know what happened and you're down here threatening me." Harry said, turning his glare to Fudge.
"Well, you see, parents that were on the Platform September First were talking about how you used to Cruriotus Curse on someone. Praising you, some saying they plan on teaching it to their children and.."
"I think that is the right idea." Dumbledore interrupted.
"Excuse me Head Master." Fudge said, thunderstruck, "But teaching our youth the Unforgivable Curses is not the right idea."
"Actually, I believe it is. Dark Wizards and witches plan on using them on our youth at some point in time. Why shouldn't our youth know how to fight back and exactly what they are getting hit with?"
"We'll talk about this later." Fudge waved Dumbledore off. "Now, Harry. tell me what happened."
Harry looked at Dumbledore and he nodded. Harry sighed, and turned to Fudge. "We were on the Platform. I was with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mark, Charlie, Angel."
"Did you stay with the Weasley's over the summer?" Percy asked, edgily.
"Does it matter?" Harry said with an odd frown that Percy referred to his own family like that. "Anyway, there had been an explosion before we got on the platform so when we did get on the platform kids were screaming and stuff. Well, The teachers.."
"Teachers. what were they doing on Platform 9 and ¾?" Umbridge asked with a nastily smirk on her face.
"They were.err.they were. actually I don't know what they were doing there, I just know they were." Harry lied, not knowing if he should tell them about the Order, especially Percy.
"They were doing something for me August 31 in London, and were taking the train back here." Dumbledore said plainly, "What they were doing and why is between the teachers and myself."
"Anyway," Harry said quickly before any one could say anything against Dumbledore, "Right before I got on the train there was another explosion and it ended up being about ten Death Eaters." Harry eyed Percy and all the color had drained from his face.
"Yes, we know. ten Death Eaters were spotted on the Platform, now get to the part were you used that curse." Fudge said impatiently.
"Yes, sir. well. it was right after they got there. Charlie had just gotten Ron and Ginny on the train and." Harry concentrated on that event. he couldn't say it out loud. "Bellatrix Lestrange."
"What about her?" Umbridge snapped.
"That's who I curse you two face, thick, old git!" Harry screamed.
"That is uncalled for Harry." Fudge said softly.
"Continue Harry." Dumbledore said smiling at him. Umbridge had turned pink.
"Well, she started talking about how she killed Sirius and."
"Well, maybe she should be let off then. got rid of one of those hoodlums." Umbridge piped.
"SHUT UP YOU OLD WIND BAG BEFORE I MAKE YOU!" Harry screamed.
"And you will be expelled for it you stupid little runt." Umbridge yelled.
"Well, seeing you squirm might be worth it!"
"Harry, please, ignore Dolores. and Dolores, if Harry doesn't hex you, I'm afraid I will." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Well, I cursed her and it didn't last too long and she started to curse me and then Angel cursed her." Harry continued. "After I got Neville onto the train I heard Angel scream and I went to help her and Lestrange cursed me again." A sharp pain came to him in remembering that, but it left quickly.
"Why didn't she kill you?" Percy said sternly.
"Because Trawnley saved me." Harry said simply. Yes, Trawnley saved him, but who was saving her.
"Yes, well, I'd like to talk to Sibyl. if that's okay." Fudge said.
"Can't, they took her." Harry covered his mouth. It just accrued to him the Minister didn't know and possible wasn't supposed to know. He looked over at Dumbledore, but he seemed not to care.
"They kidnapped Sibyl. and why didn't you tell me this Albus?" Fudge whined.
"Your Auror already know and are already working on it. It seemed that you had more important things to do, such as convicting Mr. Potter here, than dealing with a Death Eater's kidnap."
Fudge turned red, redder than anyone. "I can't let it go unnoted. Using magic in front of Muggles, blowing up his aunt, help hiding a convicted murder and that little show he put on last year. I'm sorry Albus, but I have to do something."
"That was the house elf that used the magic, I blew up my aunt because she was talking ill about my dad, I hid Sirius because you would have killed him and it was her fault I had to use magic last summer." Harry pointed a finger at Umbridge.
"I did nothing of the sort." She started to turn white, then pink, then green.
"Tell them Dolores; tell your Minister what you did." Dumbledore said softly.
Umbridge looked at him then looked at Fudge, then back to Dumbledore. "Well, I." She turned to Fudge again. "Now don't be angry with me Minister. I did it for you. I. err. I kinda sent the Dementors after Potter last summer. just to get him out of the way. he was lying and making you look bad."
"Sorry Cornelius, but Harry wasn't lying and you were making your self look bad enough with out our help." Dumbledore said kindly.
"YOU WHAT?" Fudge cried, staring at Umbridge. "YOU SENT TWO DEMENTORS AFTER A BOY AND VOTED FOR HIS EXPELLSION WHEN HE TOLD THE TRUTH. YOU TACKLESS, NASTILY LITTLE WOMEN!" Fudge screamed. "Okay, okay, okay," Fudge soothed himself. "Harry, Dumbledore I have to get this back to the Minister and prosecuted." he jabbed his thumb at Umbridge, "I will be back Sunday evening with a couple more workers and we will straighten this out. for now, Harry you are suspended."
"You can't do that!" Harry said firmly.
"Harry, you won't miss class and when you come off clean, the suspension will be dropped." Dumbledore said softly. "I'll see you Sunday Minister." Fudge, Umbridge and Percy left the office.
"Professor, Percy is a." Harry said as soon as the door shut.
"I know Harry." Dumbledore said sadly. "But he's fighting himself enough to have us jump in on him."
"What?"
"Harry. he'll do the right thing, even if the right thing isn't what's right for us."
Harry was speechless. He look at Dumbledore and then at his feet. He messed with his hair and left. The right thing for him wasn't what was right for someone else. Just because it wasn't right for him to be lied to doesn't make it right for him to lie to his friends. Was Dumbledore talking to him or Percy? Harry decided, he was going to go back to Hadrig's and talk to them about whatever it was they wanted to know.
"CHARLIE STOP!" Someone yelled. Harry's eyes got big and he began to run toward to nose. Charlie Weasley was in the entrance hall. His red hair was falling into his face and he had Percy pinned against the wall, gripping his neck.
Percy was now red face, his hands holding his brother wrist. "Char.lie. stop. please." He gasped.
"You big headed git!" Charlie yelled. "You don't even deserve to belong to the name!"
"Charlie, please." Angel took hold of his arm and tried to pull it away.
"Mr. Weasley, now, this is not appropriate behavior." Fudge said, staring at Charlie.
"Minister, bug off. my little brother needs the fire whipped out of him." Charlie said sternly.
"Charlie, you know I don't want to do this, but if you don't let him go." Angel raised her wand on Charlie.
He turned his face to hers and in such a small time the expression changed from loath and betrayal. "You'd curse me? I thought you hated him too."
"Of course I hate the little sneak, but killing him won't do much good. He's made his decision and there is nothing we can do about it." Angel put her wand back in her robes, took grip of Charlie's hand and pulled it away from Percy's neck.
Charlie looked at Percy on last time, and then looked away sharply. "Harry how long have you been standing there?" Angel asked, looking at him.
"I heard you scream. saw most of it." Harry stammered.
"Look what you've done now Weasley; introduced the child to fighting." Fudge throwing his hands in the air.
"Harry's no child and he's fought worse fights than this Minister." Charlie shot back, pushing his brother toward Fudge and away from him.
"Err.Minister where is Dolores?" Angel asked.
"Right." Fudge turned around. The plump lady that was standing behind him, shaking in fear was gone. "Where did she go?" Charlie and Angel looked at one another and ran to the front door. A fat little figure was running down the grounds.
"GET HER BEFORE SHE GETS INTO THE FORREST, WE WILL NEVER FIND HER IF SHE DOES!" Fudge ordered his tiny figure racing down the ground.
"Minister, she won't go in the forest. too scared. centaurs." Angel called after him. Umbridge was down the path and passed the gates now. She could apparate as soon as she got on the country side.
"Damn." Fudge breathed. "Come along Perky let's get back to the Ministry, need to report her." Fudge grabbed Percy's arm and drug him down, slowly this time, the grounds.
"Yes, do have fun Perk!" Charlie yelled after him. Percy's ears went pink.
"You two going to the Order?"
"Yeah," Angel said, pulling her hand through her hair, "Fights and killings keep popping up more and more."
"Anything I can do to help?" Harry asked.
"Keep an eye on Miley for me." Angel answered.
"Yeah, for precious little Krum." Charlie said nastily.
"I told you we were just friends. And Miley is my friend too." Angel threaded her arm in Charlie's and started walking toward the front door. "Bye Harry." And they both disappeared through the front door.
Harry gave a weak smile and waved to the wood. Hermione and Ron hit it off perfect as friends and really didn't need him did they. Ginny always had her friends and Luna, Mark was fitting in fine with the Gryffindor first years and the one person Harry felt one and the same with, Angel, had Charlie to fall on. So, who did Harry have? He was something cursed.