Disclaimer :It's not mine, it's not mine, it's not mine, etc… does that get me off the hook for a few chapters?
Chapter 11: Let Down
Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked on at the giant of a man lying in the white hospital sheets. He seemed so weak and fragile. So...not Hagrid. After Professor Dumbledore had taken the groundskeeper to St. Mungo's, he had allowed the trio to visit him on Sunday. And there they stood, distressed at their friend's continued illness. It wasn't fair.
Harry left the bedside and went out into the hall. He sat in a large, purple visitor's chair and fingered the scar that was causing him so much pain. Voldemort must be very happy. He was ruining everyone's lives. But Hagrid's dilemma wasn't the only thing bothering him. He remembered how he had felt the day before, when his aunt had promised him love. It had been a strange, yet welcome feeling, all to be taken away in a matter of hours. After settling Hagrid in at the hospital and getting a nurse to tend to him, and returning to school, Dumbledore had asked Harry to take a walk with him on the grounds. Petunia had long since gone home. A look of regret crossed had her face before turning around and walking away from the school. She knew Harry would be upset when the professor told him. She herself was upset. She didn't want to break her oath, but she knew the headmaster made sense. It just couldn't happen. They were part of two different worlds, and an oath in one, is quite different from the other. Sometimes more than a promise is needed. She deeply lamented not being able to do anything but at least she had tried. Lily couldn't deny her that.
Harry had been somewhat startled at the headmaster's request for a walk. He didn't really feel up for it. He wanted to wallow in misery. One of his friends was in St. Mungo's all because of Voldemort. Anger thrashed about his insides at the thought of the Dark Lord. But despite his want to be alone, Dumbledore had insisted that it was important. The evening had gotten chilly and Harry tucked his cloak closely around him. Dumbledore had a troubled look on his face.
"Harry, I realize that you might wish to live with your aunt, but…I am afraid that it will not be possible," the headmaster sighed.
Harry's head snapped up. Not possible? But he…he'd been there. He'd heard her.
"What? But why not?" Harry demanded rather forcefully.
"She did not tell me of her plans. I heard them for the first time, when you did. I had assumed that she would take you back to Privet Drive, but I see now, that that will not happen. I have explained to her why it couldn't work."
"But why can't it? She's family. I'd have a home," Harry didn't understand how that could not be enough.
"She is only part of your family, Harry. As much as you might like to deny it, your uncle and cousin are part of your family too. Without them, it offers no protection. I cannot force them to take you back if it is their wish that you remain away."
"But if I'm not with them, any of them, then I won't have any family at all and I'll be completely alone," Harry tried not to sound like he was feeling sorry for himself, but he couldn't help it. Nobody wanted him.
"No, you will never be alone. Not with friends. However, you are still without a home. I will have to find you a suitable place to stay next summer. A safe place. Harry," the headmaster let out a long breath, "I am sorry it had to come to this. To take to your happiness away so quickly after it had come. But do not worry, I will find somewhere for you to live." Dumbledore left Harry standing in front of an old oak tree that grew at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Harry watched the old wizard walk towards to castle, feeling as if everyone was just trying to pass him off to someone else. Nobody wanted him. Now he understood the look Aunt Petunia had given him. Oh well. A strong feeling that he would never see her again, came over him and he wasn't sure if he ought to be glad or sad. She had tried, but maybe she had tried because she knew it could not work, he thought bitterly. That was probably it. She felt a little guilty that she had betrayed her sister, but she didn't actually want the responsibility of looking after him. Everything in the past day seemed like a dream. Impossible situations, impossible to believe.
Now, as Harry sat in the waiting room, he wondered who Dumbledore could find to watch over him. Having his luck, it would probably be someone awful, like Snape. Harry shuddered at the thought.
A few moments later, Ron and Hermione came out. Hermione's eyes were red and swollen. Ron had on a brave face, but Harry knew that he would rather be crying for their friend. Hagrid was currently unconscious. The Healers didn't know if he would wake up. The after effects of the Dementus Curse were becoming more severe. Only dark wizards used the curse and it wasn't commonly known to be used even by them, so they weren't sure how to stop the terrors floating through Hagrid's mind.
"I-I can't imagine what it's like," Hermione sobbed, "He must be in such terrible pain."
***
The days after that fateful Saturday flew by. The Hogwart's teachers were doling out home as if there were no tomorrows. Preparing them for the OWLs. Hermione and Dean seemed to be the only ones who could keep up with it all. How they managed it, no one knew. Besides the homework, they both had prefect duties every other night of the week. And Hermione was still, unbeknownst to everyone else, secretly studying Defence Against the Dark Arts with Lavender whenever she could. On top of all that, she still had frequent run-ins with Malfoy that left her bewildered and somewhat disheartened. She couldn't ignore everything he said.
Harry and Ron were barely scraping by. They tended to want to play Exploding Snap or Wizard's Chess, rather than do homework. They were often found in the common room in the wee hours of the morning, scribbling furiously on blotchy pieces of parchment for essays due right after breakfast. Hermione tried to help them whenever she could, but all work and no play was beginning to take its toll on her. She was always tired and she was growing very thin. She was apt to run to the Great Hall, grab a piece of toast and rush back to the common room to resume her studies. Quite often, though, she failed to show up for meals at all.
As for Harry teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Artemisia continued to ask him to take over for the Patronus Charm. He found it rather dull. Having only to reiterate what he had told them all during his first class. He walked around the room for the time, every once in a while patting someone on the shoulder for doing a good job or telling someone to find a happier memory than the one they were using. Hermione and Dean were neck and neck for best in the class. But even with all her practicing, Hermione fell somewhat short of beating the dark-skinned boy.
***
As Harry walked out to the Quidditch pitch one day after class, he was ambushed by a young and eager second year.
"Hi, Dennis," Harry trying to hide his exasperation. He was in no mood to talk. Dumbledore had told him that there had been no change in Hagrid's condition. It was not news that he wanted to dwell upon and Quidditch seemed to be the only thing that helped ease his mind.
"Hiya, Harry! Just going to Quidditch practice then, are you?" Dennis asked.
Master of the obvious, thought Harry, Wonder what tipped him off. Could it have been perhaps, my broom? My gear? My walking to the pitch?
"Er, yeah. I am. We've got our first game against Ravenclaw in a few weeks, do you mind?" Harry said politely, "Alicia will get mad if I'm late."
"Right. Mind if I walk with you?"
"Erm…sure, Dennis. Is there something you want?" Harry desperately wanted the boy to leave, but couldn't think of any polite way to say it.
"Well, yeah, actually. I was wondering when you could start teaching my friends and me some of the Defence Against Dark Arts."
Harry mentally groaned. He had forgotten his promise to the young boy.
"Right…uh well, it might be hard to find a time. I mean I've got OWLs this year…" when he saw the look of utter desolation on Dennis' face he quickly went on, "but I'm sure I can find sometime. Talk to me…uh…tomorrow, at lunch." At this, Harry sprinted off; waving goodbye to the young Gryffindor, hopeful that Alicia might take pity on him and not yell at him too much for being late.
"We've already gone over tactics, Harry! Now get on your broom and start warm-up," Alicia yelled as Harry jogged onto the pitch. He sighed, but mounted his broom and flew off to do a few laps. It didn't turn out to be a very good practice. Harry found he just couldn't concentrate. The rest of his team mates were doing ok, but they were definitely not up to snuff. Alicia found this incredibly aggravating. Every five seconds she was flying over to a new player to tell them what they were doing wrong. Fred and George finally got sick of it and announced that they were going to quit if she wasn't a little more supportive. The Gryffindor captain turned red at the statement.
"I'm sorry guys," she apologized as she signalled them all to come in. They landed in the middle of the pitch where Alicia tried to justify her actions. "It's just hard. We're all so out of practice."
"Speak for yourself," George muttered softly so she wouldn't hear.
"I really want to win this year. For a lot of us," she looked at the other seventh years, "it's our last year. And I personally would like to leave this school with the cup."
"Here, here!" Fred shouted.
Alicia smiled and tossed her broom over her shoulder. "Ok. That's enough practice for today. But I want you all out here, bright and early, Thursday morning."
The team collectively groan at the word 'early,' but promised their captain they'd be there. Harry joined the Weasley twins as they trudged up to the castle.
"So what do you think of the new Dark Arts professor, Harry?" George wanted to know, "I heard she's got you teaching the whole class now."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah. Just for the Patronus Charm. I don't know about her. She seems so ordinary, that I'm inclined to think that she'll be the worst teacher of the lot. What do you know about her?"
"Just what she told us in class. But I agree with you. She seems too normal to be good," Fred told him.
As the three Quidditch players walked into the castle, they were silent, each thinking of some horror that could be true about the Dark Arts professor. Reaching the common room, the twins bade goodbye to Harry and rushed up the stairs to their rooms. Harry walked over to a chair and flopped down into its squishy cushions. The room was empty except for a few students who sat by one of the large windows, quizzing each other for an upcoming History test. Harry leaned forward in his chair to un-strap his shin guards. He flung those, along with his other protective equipment, onto the nearest couch. Feeling somewhat lighter, he forced himself to get up from the chair and make his way up to his room. Dean Thomas was sitting on his bed, engrossed in the latest edition of Hogwarts: A History.
"Wow! You mean there are actually people besides Hermione who read that book?" Harry joked as he eased out of his Quidditch robes.
Dean rolled his eyes and chuckled. "It's actually kind of interesting. I mean, did you know that the longest stretch for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was three years, back in 1784? Someone named…Zaedea Mortella"
Harry pondered this information. "I guess Artemisia hasn't got a hope in hell, then. I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong with her."
"Oh? There has to be some flaw?" Dean questioned.
"Think about it. Dumbledore wouldn't just hire anybody. He specializes in one-year contracts. And since he can't very well kick them out with no explanation, he probably picks people he knows are going to foul up somehow," Harry reasoned jokingly.
Dean grinned. Putting his book down on his bed, he got up and went to the door. He waited for Harry to finish changing before saying, "Let's go get some dinner, I'm starved."
Harry nodded and followed him out, down the stairs to the common room. Harry glanced over at the students who were still quizzing each other, when he slammed forcefully into Dean's back.
"S-sorry, Harry," he laughed nervously "Just…just can't make my feet go sometimes."
"Uh…yeah. Happens to me all the time," Harry told him, thinking it a little weird, but trying to make him feel better.
They went out the portrait and walked in silence to the Great Hall. Harry spotted Hermione and Ron sitting near the other end of the room and, leaving Dean to sit with Seamus who was near the door, went to sit with them.
Hermione was eating quickly. Although Ron had finally convinced her to actually come down for dinner, she still had a lot of work she wanted to get done. She also had a meeting with Lavender that night.
"Right. I've got to be off," she said, shoving one last spoonful of stew in her mouth before taking off from the Great Hall. Harry jumped a little by her sudden movements. When she was gone, he asked, "Was it something I did?"
Ron shook his head, "She's been acting strange ever since…well, since Hagrid went to St. Mungo's. I dunno. I think she's jut working too hard."
"Yeah. You know, I reckon she hasn't actually slept in over a week. Halloween's almost here and I bet she'll study her way through the entire feast."
Ron laughed at the probable truth of Harry's statement.
"How was Quidditch practice?"
"Alright. No, it stunk. Couldn't concentrate. I've just got so much on my mind lately, you know?"
Ron shook his head once more, "No, I don't really. You don't really tell me much these days." He stared at a large piece of carrot in his stew.
A sad look crossed Harry's face. "Merlin, I'm sorry, mate. It's just…well…" he looked around to see if anyone was listening and took a deep breath, "The Durlsey's have, well, they threw me out."
A/N Gasp! How will our favourite Weasley react? I know. I'm just the most fabulous cliffhanger…er you have ever seen. Am I right? Haha, sigh. Anyway. Finally got rid of Petunia. It took me a while to think of a good way to do it, since I kinda agreed with Von that she wasn't really right for the part. But I think I may have someone else lined up for the job of Harry's new caretaker. Who will it be? Mwahahaha, I know, I'm pathetic. Have pity.
Sorry bout my rambling, I felt like putting my message first, after such a magnificent cliffie. Now onto my faithful reviewers.
Von : Hmmm, about the beta thing, I just might take you up on that. Later though. I want everyone's opinion on this one right now. Thanks for the offer though. Greatly appreciated. I must agree that you went a little psycho on me, but hell, we all do from time to time, eh? Anyway, what you said about Vernon, sadly, I think must be kept for another story, as it did not really flow with this one. I don't plan on having Harry go home anytime soon, or at all. Maybe, to the new guardian's place, but I dunno. Thestrals, I must get to work on them. I'm still trying to think of a plausible explanation for that. I agree that Harry might forget seeing his parents die, but he did see them, so I don't think it really matters. Anyway, keep reviewing. Thanks!
Princess55: Yeah. You did review the 10th chapter, technically, but not the last one, because I had to change em all around. I'm glad it makes sense now. I know, I have trouble with sense. One of those annoying little buggers I just want to kill sometimes. Sense, bah, who needs it. ;) Thanks for taking time to actually e-mail me since ff didn't let you review the other way. Means a lot to me!
Samantha: Ahh, your whistling makes me happy. Hehe, I'm such a nerd but I'm very happy that you are enjoying my story! Keep reviewing!