Change of Heart

by Lplus

During the late summer of 1996 and the first term of his sixth year, Harry Potter wrestles with the machinations of his enemies, the growth of his powers and the consequences of a Change of Heart HT then HG also RHr COMPLETE at last.

19. Interrogations

Ch 19: - Interrogations

The Headmaster's study was well filled by the time Harry and Ginny arrived, exactly on time. Harry was not surprised to see Snape, McGonagall, and Moody but he was amazed to see Remus Lupin, Amelia Bones, Kingsley Shacklebolt and a serious looking Charlie Weasley. The look on Ginny's face suggested that she was as surprised as Harry to see the last four.

The Headmaster provided chairs for them and, once they were seated, began to speak.

'Thank you for attending this afternoon.' he began. 'You've all read Harry's report, and I believe we can all congratulate him, Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas for their success in driving off three Death Eaters, and saving the life of Nymphadora Tonks. The latest report from St Mungo's states that Nymphadora is progressing well.'

Several nods and smiles were forthcoming, especially from Remus Lupin. Snape, on the, other hand, simply nodded, and Charlie Weasley seemed almost angry.

'Pity he didn't get there a bit earlier!' he muttered. 'Tonks might not be lying in St Mungo's at all.'

There was a collective gasp of indrawn breath, even from the portraits of the previous head teachers that lined the walls. Harry was struck by the sight of a deep seated anger in Charlie's eyes, but he also noted a small, satisfied, smile on Snape's face.

Everyone else was now looking at Charlie in amazement, and several of the portraits were signalling furiously to adjacent empty frames, but it was Ginny who recovered first and spoke up. Her voice was as hard as diamond.

'What in Merlin's name are you talking about, Brother? Harry only got involved by pure chance! He got there as soon as he could! Tonks is bloody lucky he got there at all!'

Charlie wouldn't be cowed, however, despite the venomous looks from his sister and the stunned looks on some of the other faces. All the portraits were now occupied.

'I've read this report!' he said, brandishing the parchment at his sister. 'He didn't follow her immediately. He stayed in some classroom, and spent ages looking out of the window!'

Harry was about to admit Charlie was right, but he never got the chance.

'THAT IS ENOUGH!' shouted Professor McGonagall. 'What is the matter with you, Mister Weasley? I too have read this report. Harry had no particular reason to suspect that the person disguised as me was in danger of attack. As far as he knew, the attack was from the East, and he had already seen myself and Professor Snape heading in that direction. In fact he wasn't even certain which one was in disguise!'

Charlie sat and glowered at his old House Mistress.

'So why did he decide to follow your double instead of you then?' he argued.

'I have no idea, Mr Weasley, and Harry probably has no better idea himself. Instinct, perhaps? Mindreading? Guesswork? Whatever it was. You should be thanking your lucky constellations that he did!'

'Yeah!' added Ginny, 'If Harry hadn't arrived, Dora might be lying on a slab, not in a hospital bed!'

This didn't seem to mollify Charlie one bit. He jumped up and stared down angrily at his little sister. 'And what were you doing getting yourself involved, anyway? Our parents are going to hear about this!'

Ginny recoiled from Charlie's stare whilst Harry was beginning to question Charlie's sanity.

Severus Snape sat forward in his chair and spoke before Ginny could answer. 'A good question. What were Miss Weasley and Mr. Thomas doing outside the castle during dinner?'

There was a sudden silence. Harry saw Ginny starting to blush as the rest of the participants looked at her questioningly.

It was Professor Dumbledore who came to her aid.

'I do not think that is relevant to the matter in hand! I also do not believe there is any school rule which prohibits students from standing together in front of the school buildings in daylight, or from missing meals if they so wish. The fact is, that they both were instrumental in helping Harry keep the Death Eaters at bay, and I believe we will be well served by concentrating on that and that alone!'

In the silence that followed, Charlie Weasley sat back and visibly attempted to get a grip on his temper. Snape returned to his previous icy stillness, whilst the rest of the group looked at Charlie, at each other, at Ginny, at Harry, and finally at the Headmaster.

'Thank you,' continued the Professor. 'I specifically asked all of you here to witness my invoking the Priori Incantatem spell on Bellatrix Lestrange's wand. Harry had the foresight to snatch the wand during the melee.'

The Headmaster produced the wand from his desk and handed it to Harry. Several of the others leaned forward to watch as Dumbledore pointed his own wand at Bellatrix's and pronounced the spell.

Immediately, Harry's disembodied voice intoned 'Quellium' Heads lifted to study Harry's face.

'Ginny felt sick,' he explained with a shrug. Ginny nodded, looking grim.

The Headmaster tapped the wand again. This time there was a sibilant whisper 'Impedimenta.' Another tap, and a second whisper followed hard on the first. Everyone looked at the wand in consternation, including Harry, before he realised what had happened.

'I - er - I didn't say the words of the spell, I just thought them.' Various eyebrows were raised.

Dumbledore tapped the wand once more, making it issue three cries of "Incendio" in Harry's voice. Harry remembered the fire blossoming through the trees.

The wand's next utterance gained everyone's attention. The language was unknown, the curse guttural and harsh, the voice was undeniably Bellatrix's. Most listeners just shook their heads, but Charlie seemed to tense, and a faraway look appeared in his eye. Harry, however, was concerned about something else.

'Professor? Bellatrix started to cast the killing curse after that unknown one. Why hasn't the wand played that back?'

Dumbledore thought for a second. 'Because the curse was not completed, Harry. The curse must actually be cast for the wand to record it.'

Charlie interrupted. 'Could you get the wand to repeat the curse, Professor?'

Dumbledore obliged, the guttural incantation grating on ears and minds alike. Charlie, however, sat up with a cold smile on his face.'

I think I recognise the language. It's Magyar, A Hungarian language. I heard it when I was in Romania.' He looked round in triumph. 'Hungary is next to Romania.' He looked thoughtful. 'I think the curse refers to something called "The Wheel of Death"'

Amelia Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt started. They looked at one another and then at Charlie. 'The Ministry has heard of that curse, Charlie,' confirmed Shacklebolt. 'So far we have had no information regarding the effects.'

'Well, you know now!' growled Charlie, 'What are you going to do about it?'

'At present, we can do nothing but warn all operatives to be aware of the curse. It appears to inflict external lacerations instead of the internal disruption or stunning action of the more usual offensive curses. As Harry was able to avoid the second of these curses, we can assume it is not a homing curse, and thus is no more difficult to counter than other curses.'

Moody leaned forward. 'You don't know that, Kingsley. Harry didn't have to try a protection spell against it, because he must have been able to hear the death eater casting it, and we don't know whether Nymphadora Tonks knew anything at all about it.'

Harry suddenly realised that Moody was acting as if he didn't know about Harry's protection spells, in particular, the one that could pick up curses being cast against him. Harry had just written in his report that he heard the curses, not how. Now he was really confused about who knew what. Was this to prevent the Ministry personnel knowing all the Order's defensive abilities? Or Snape? Or did Moody really not know?

Amelia Bones was now talking. 'Thank you Alastor. I'm sure we will be able to investigate a good deal further now we know the curse's effects and the incantation.' She looked round. Most of the participants were waiting for her next comment but Snape was sitting back, eyes glittering coldly, a slight sneer on his lips. As he looked at Harry, a tiny twinge in his scar made Harry look more closely at the potions master. Snape noticed and seemed to force himself to relax.

Amelia spoke again, 'I take it that we all believe the attack was aimed at Sybil Trelawney?'

Everyone seemed to be in agreement.

Professor Dumbledore stirred himself. 'I think there is no doubt that Sybil was the target, although we are unsure how Bellatrix intended to reach Professor Trelawney's tower and abduct her from the centre of the castle.'

'Do we even know whether Bellatrix Lestrange is aware of Sybil Trelawney's location?' asked Remus Lupin.

'Or even whether she was there, or in the Great Hall?' added Moody.

The Headmaster held up his hand to stop further speculation. 'No, we do not! Assuming the Death eaters expected, or knew, Sybil to be in her tower, it seems likely that inside help was to be forthcoming for the abduction.'

'And if they expected her to be in the Great Hall? Headmaster?' asked Snape, silkily.

'Then it would suggest that the Death eaters would have tried to abduct her from the hall itself.'

Exclamations of surprise and dismay echoed off the ceiling.

'But how?' asked Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minerva McGonagall answered quietly. 'By taking the hall full of students hostage?' She hesitated for several seconds to allow her words sink in, 'It would be possible, Death Eaters are generally exceptionally fanatical. A direct threat to the students could be expected to provide a, shall we say, - potent? - bargaining tool.'

The rest of the group considered the scenario with mounting horror. Harry could vividly picture the effect of the Death Eaters new curse on a packed mass of panicking students. From the look on her face, Ginny was considering the same scenario.

'There would only have been three of them, though.' muttered Moody.

'There were at least two more providing a distraction, Alastor.' argued Lupin. 'They would not be expected to remain outside the school if Bellatrix had reached the hall. I imagine the Headmaster would have signalled us to stop resisting.' Dumbledore nodded slowly, 'Minerva, Severus and I would have been helpless to stop them.'

'You may well be right, Remus,' said McGonagall, 'although I still suspect additional help from inside the school would still be required.'

Harry sat up suddenly. 'Er - Professor?'

'Yes, Harry?'

'I - er - I saw Draco Malfoy and his friends in the entrance to the dungeons as I left the castle.'

Everyone stared at Harry. His dislike of Malfoy was well known and Harry suddenly realised how that statement might look. Snape's eyes had narrowed at the sound of the name Malfoy; he now stood and faced Harry.

'Ah yes,' he said slowly, 'How convenient. How useful to be able to implicate another student. I hope, Headmaster, that you will bear in mind Mr. Potter's unreasonable hatred of certain members of Slytherin house?'

Dumbledore considered Professor Snape without speaking, then turned to Harry. 'There is a simple way to discover the truth. Harry? Will you submit to a legilimens interrogation by myself, and Professor Snape?'

Harry looked around the study, every pair of eyes was locked on his. Harry wondered if he could control how much Snape saw.

'Of course, Professor.' he said confidently, and closed his eyes. He didn't really have any choice.

Within seconds, Severus Snape was whispering the legilimens incantation. Harry concentrated on the entrance hall as he had seen it as he passed through. The marble staircase flew beneath his feet as he hurried down towards the door. He could see the stone flags, the suit of armour in the corner, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle standing just THERE, the open door, with the grey sky outside, the -

Harry tried to dissolve the scene as Snape pushed his memory to continue, or to jump elsewhere. A flickering view appeared of the outside of the castle before the grey tide swept in to obliterate all signs of recollection. He opened his eyes.

Snape was staring at him with a look of loathing - mixed with a grudging respect. Harry felt as though his brain had been stirred with a rusty spoon, but he summoned up a smile and addressed the potions master.

'Did you see sufficient, Professor? - Would you like to run through it again?'

Snape sneered at Harry. 'I might suspect a trick, if it were someone truly skilled in occlumency, Mr.Potter, but as it's you, I'll accept you were telling the truth - this time.'

Harry inclined his head graciously and turned to Dumbledore, 'Your turn, Professor?'

The Headmaster shook his head once. 'Thank you, Harry, but if Professor Snape can find no lie - I would not even contemplate an attempt.'

'Lie or not, there is no proof that the circumstances are connected.' snarled Snape.

'I could not agree more, Severus.' replied Dumbledore, 'However, given that the father of one of the Slytherin students was involved in the attack?…'

Snape nodded and sat down with a sour look on his face.

'And what will you do to the Slytherin students, Headmaster?' queried Madam Bones.

'Nothing.' replied Dumbledore. 'There is no proof, as Severus so rightly points out - there will, however, be a certain amount of investigation, by one means or another.'

Snape nodded his head, and was once again still.

The silence that descended at that point seemed to stretch on and on, but it was finally broken by Charlie Weasley, who had been getting increasingly impatient as the discussion proceeded.

'So! Are we all just going to sit here?'

The Headmaster frowned at Charlie. 'No, Mr Weasley. At present there is little to do but strengthen our defences and wait. I assume the additional aurors are on their way, Kingsley?'

'Yes, Albus. They should be here within the next couple of hours.'

Snape snorted loudly. 'I doubt that Lord Voldemort will allow a failed plan to be used once more. It is considerably more likely that a different target will now be chosen!'

'None the less, Severus,' argued The Headmaster, I do not think that is an excuse to reduce our security staffing. Nymphadora Tonks is going to be out of action for some time to come.'

'Very well, Headmaster, but if you have finished with discussion, I have some potions brewing that need stirring, so I will bid everyone good afternoon.' So saying, Snape gathered his robe around himself and strode out of the Headmaster's office.

'I too think I should return to my duties, Headmaster.' murmured Professor McGonagall.

'Very well, Minerva.' agreed the headmaster, then he addressed the rest of the group. 'I still have one or two things to discuss with Madam Bones and Mr. Kingsley. I would appreciate it if our recent discussion remained confidential, although I would like to see you, Harry, and Ginny, in half an hour.

The rest of the group filed out of the headmaster's study and began to disperse. Charlie had already disappeared, allegedly towards the library, but Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody grabbed Harry and Ginny by an arm each and gently steered them to Moody's study. Questions were queuing up behind Harry's lips by the time they reached the study, and by the look on her face, Ginny had the same problem.

- o -

As the door of Alastor Moody's study closed behind them, Ginny managed to beat Harry to the draw by about half a second.

'Remus! What's happened to Charlie? Why did he tear into Harry that way?'

'Yeah,' added Harry, 'have the dragons fried his brains?'

Remus Lupin held up both hands in front of him as if to stave off the questions.

'Please,' he said, 'sit down and I will try to explain, Charlie has had something of a shock,'

'And we haven't?' asked Harry incredulously.

Moody's battered face twisted into a slight smile as he sat down behind his desk.

'Just listen, then you can judge.' he growled.

Remus Lupin settled into one of Moody's armchairs. Ginny took the other, while Harry leaned against the book case.

At last Lupin began. 'Firstly, Harry, you need to know how the protection system has been operating for the last few weeks. Nymphadora and I have been staying at the dragon "research" station, two valleys north of here. It's not really a full research station, of course, although Charlie and his associates have been trying some new restraining and concealment spells on the few dragons they have.'

'Nymphadora has been carrying out the greater share of the observation work, usually the daytime and early evening shift, because of her metamorphmagus abilities. I have taken the night time shift, obviously, because the students are supposed to be in bed.'

'Hang on,' interrupted Harry, 'one of you has been in the school all the time for well over a month?'

Lupin nodded.

'So why didn't I see you on the Marauder's map, at least once?' asked Harry. He suddenly realised that Moody might not know about the map, but Moody showed no surprise whatever.

Lupin hesitated and then sighed, 'Because you were not supposed to know we were here, Harry. There was a small chance you might see either one of us and the whole point about our activities was that no students should know we were operating.'

'But how did you stop the ma- '

'Details later, Harry!' said Ginny impatiently. 'What about Charlie, Remus?'

'Very well. During the time we have been staying at the station, Charlie and Nymphadora have had a chance to get to know each other quite well, even though she has been carrying out the majority of the surveillance.'

Harry's heart lurched, as he realised what was Lupin was leading up to. Ginny was obviously beginning to cotton on as well.

'It seems Charlie has become more than a little attached to Nymphadora.' Lupin hesitated. 'I believe the feeling is mutual.'

Harry took a deep breath.

So! - Sooner than expected, he thought, - but not surprising, really. For several seconds, his mind was a jumble of thoughts, memories, hopes and fears, which rapidly dissolved into a kind of emptiness; and perhaps a slight sense of relief.

Harry almost imagined he heard the sound of a door closing, at the end of a long corridor. It was not one he ever expected to enter again, but nevertheless, another way was shut.

Ginny was staring at him as if he was an unopened howler.

Harry released the breath. 'So? Charlie knows Tonks is an Auror. Why is he so shocked that she got hurt?'

'Because he didn't really believe Bellatrix Lestrange would be so foolhardy as to attack the school; because he didn't think a situation would arise where Tonks would have to go up against several death eaters at once.' explained Lupin.

'He's more shocked by the extent of the damage, I reckon.' added Moody.

'And the thought that only chance brought you onto the scene to save her.' concluded Lupin.

As an afterthought he added 'He may even have transferred anger at himself to you.'

Ginny was still looking at Harry as if he was going to explode. As the seconds ticked by and nothing happened, her face changed from worry to curiosity. Harry gave her a slight smile.

'I suppose I can't blame him,' he said quietly, 'but he gave me quite a scare.'

'He gave us all a scare,' murmured Ginny.

Lupin seemed to relax slightly, now that the question of Charlie's behaviour had been answered. He too had been looking askance at Harry, but finally glanced at Moody, who nodded.

Harry watched the exchange between Lupin and Moody. It finally registered that they had both been concerned at his possible reaction - and that they really didn't know him at all.

'So.' he said, 'How have you been getting in and out of the school? portkeys? The floo network?'

'Apparation'

'But you can't apparate inside the school?' argued Ginny.

'Not inside the school. Professor Dumbledore arranged for the protection spells to be modified to open a small space that we could use.'

Harry looked at Ginny. Ginny looked back at Harry.

'Near the greenhouses?' asked Ginny

A potting shed?' asked Harry. Ginny flashed a glance at him.

Lupin nodded. 'How did you know?'

'We followed someone who looked like Professor Trelawney into the area one evening.' explained Ginny.

'And I looked round the next morning and noticed a strange smell in one of the potting sheds.' added Harry. He looked at Ginny and shrugged. 'I didn't make the connection. You don't expect to find perfume in a garden shed.'

She looked down and smiled to herself.

'Well,' he said slightly sadly, 'I don't anyway.'

Remus Lupin suddenly took on a faraway look..

'The Headmaster wants to see you two now.' he said as his gaze returned to the room. Harry turned to the door with Ginny right behind him.

'Thanks for telling us, Remus.' he said, as he reached the door.

'Yeah, thanks.' added Ginny.

'Harry!' Lupin signalled for them to wait. 'About the map: remember who made it. Sirius and James were the instigators, but I remember the principles as if it were only yesterday.'

As they headed back to the Headmaster's study, Ginny obviously had something on her mind. She glanced at Harry and looked away quickly, but finally she dragged her eyes back to his.

'Harry?' she said urgently 'Believe me, I had no idea about Tonks and Charlie! I thought you'd be more upset that - '

'I know you didn't, Ginny.' He interrupted. He stopped and turned to her, then had to wait whilst three second year girls passed, giving them curious glances. Finally the three were out of earshot.

'Look,' he continued, 'it wasn't the way you think!' He hesitated, struggling for words. 'It just - happened; it wasn't - permanent. It was just two people who - needed each other for a while. Dammit, she's eight years older than me!' He stopped and sighed.

'I never expected to see her again, to be honest.' he said quietly. 'It was a shock, but, well - It's not as if I – well - love - her.'

Ginny was looking at Harry open mouthed. Several times, she seemed to be about to say something, but each time she hesitated and appeared to change her mind.

'Do you - love - anyone?' she asked at last.

Harry drew a breath and slowly sighed. A picture of Ginny and Dean in one of the sheds appeared behind his eyes for a second before he answered.

'No one you know, Ginny,' he murmured, 'No one you know.'

For a short while Ginny regarded him steadily, as if she was about to ask him another question. Instead, however, her eyes took on a determined glitter as she turned away and hurried onwards towards Dumbledore's study. Harry rushed to catch her up, wondering why she had asked.

He hated misleading Ginny, but he couldn't face the thought of telling her the truth. He consoled himself with the thought that he hadn't actually told Ginny a lie.

After all, who can honestly say that they know themselves.

- o -

'Ah, Harry! There you are.' exclaimed the Headmaster. He was just ushering Amelia Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt out of his study.

'We will put your questions to Arthur tomorrow, Albus.' said Kingsley. 'As I understand it, his experiments are progressing satisfactorily.'

'We will be in contact as soon as possible tomorrow, Albus' added Madam Bones.

The two Ministry officials turned and walked away towards the main entrance, leaving Harry and Ginny to follow the Headmaster into his study. Harry wondered if "Arthur" was Arthur Weasley.

Dumbledore turned to them as they entered and waved them towards the armchairs before the fire

'Now Harry,' he began, once they were seated, 'I have organised a portkey for you and Ginny to visit Nymphadora Tonks in St Mungo's hospital this evening. You will not be able to do more than say hello, and sit with her for a while, but I believe that your presence will help her recovery.'

Harry said nothing and glanced at Ginny.

'Harry?' The Headmaster looked from one to another with mild surprise.

'Professor.' began Harry. 'I - er - I think it might be better if Charlie Weasley were to accompany Ginny to St Mungo's.'

The Headmaster looked at Harry thoughtfully. 'But you saved Nymphadora, Harry, You and Ginny.'

Harry looked at Ginny, but she was inspecting one of the headmaster's intricate instruments with an intensity that seemed likely to melt it.

'Just the same, Professor, I really think it would be better.'

Dumbledore regarded them both for a while longer. 'Very well, Harry.' He turned to Ginny. 'Do you know where your brother is, Ginny?'

She looked up, and Harry thought he could see a glisten in her eyes

'I think he was going to the library, Professor.'

'Well would you please find him, and let him know?'

Ginny nodded agreement and left the Headmaster's study without a second glance at Harry.

The Professor's shoulders slumped slightly, as he continued to consider Harry.

'I think a visit to London will be required shortly anyway, Harry.'

'Why Professor?'

'Because Amelia Bones also informed me that the Ministry is investigating your use of the Cruciatus curse, Harry.'

Harry gaped at Dumbledore in amazement.

'But Professor! You told me I could use that curse within the area of Hogwarts if I was threatened! You said you'd told the Ministry!' Harry felt betrayed by the one person he trusted most

'Bellatrix was about to death curse me! What should I have done? How did they even find out? There were curses being fired everywhere, yesterday. Why am I being picked on?'

Dumbledore held up his hands as if to ward off Harry's anger.

'I did indeed give you that instruction, Harry, and the Ministry were informed, and they did not try to countermand my instruction. As to how they found out, there are magic monitors in Hogsmeade. I imagine they picked up the curse. Obviously there is considerable latitude, given the nature of the school, and I doubt the monitors would have picked up the curse if you had been inside, but an unforgivable curse produced by an underage wizard outside the school buildings would almost certainly ring bells somewhere. That is why I informed the Ministry, Harry. There are however, certain persons in the Ministry who, is seems, continue to argue that I have no such authority, and they are in a position to, at least, instigate an enquiry.

'Friends of Cornelius Fudge, I suppose.' muttered Harry.

'One particular associate, yes.'

Harry looked at Dumbledore with eyebrows raised quizzically.

'Ms. Dolores Umbridge.' said the Headmaster.

'Oh'

'I am afraid so, Harry.'

'I thought she was sacked from the Ministry, for setting the Dementors onto me at the beginning of last year?'

Dumbledore was suddenly still. 'I beg your pardon Harry, would you repeat that?' he asked, quietly.

Harry stared at Dumbledore; surely the Headmaster knew!

'Harry?' asked Dumbledore again.

'I thought you knew, Professor. She admitted it when she and her Slytherin helpers caught all six of us, just before we set out for the Ministry...' Harry's voice tailed off into a tense silence.

'No, Harry, I did not know.' murmured the Headmaster. 'One of the details that seems to have been missed. Did all six of you hear the admission?'

'Yes, Professor.'

'Most interesting. I will have to ask the others, of course.'

Harry winced at the thought of the other five being grilled on a subject such as that. 'You could use your legilimens ability on me, Professor,' he offered.

Dumbledore looked slightly rueful. 'I have taught you to create a lie, Harry; how can I trust my abilities upon you now?'

'Professor! You know how much effort that took!' Harry was suddenly horrified that the Headmaster would abandon him as untrustworthy.

Dumbledore was studying him intently.

Suddenly, Harry was running down the marble staircase once more. The stone floor, the suit of armour, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle at the entrance to the dungeons, the open door and the sky…

The study came back into focus. The portraits were watching him, and one of the Headmaster's instruments was slowly spinning to a halt.

The Headmaster smiled wryly at Harry. 'Was that what Professor Snape saw, Harry?'

'Yes, Professor.'

'Very well! Are there any more little secrets that have passed me by?'

Harry looked at the back of his hand. The words "I must not tell lies" were still faintly visible. 'Only this, Professor. Ms. Umbridge had a very persuasive way of enforcing her wishes.'

Dumbledore stared at the words. 'The Replicatus Incisor curse. An ancient form of torture, Harry,' he muttered. 'Prisoners were told to write a five thousand word essay on why they should go free - some of them even succeeded.'

'Were they set free, Professor?' asked Harry, then he sighed and muttered 'Silly question.'

The Headmaster sat down at his desk and stared at his fingertips. 'Cruelty is a peculiarly human trait, Harry. Not all cruel people are allied to Lord Voldemort. Sometimes, even I forget that.' He looked up at Harry. 'Thank you for telling me. I must consider whether the information can be of use to us. I have no idea when you will be called to the Ministry, but of course I will accompany you.'

'Thank you, Professor.'

'If you are going back to Gryffindor, could you ask Hermione Granger to see me as soon as possible?'

Harry recognised a dismissal when he saw it.

'And Harry? I would appreciate it if you did not suggest any reason for my request.'

'No, Professor.'

As the entrance staircase lowered him from the Headmaster's study, Harry wondered whether Hermione would even know she had been interrogated.