Well, it took a good long while, but the anxiously awaited next chapter has finally been completed. I must apologize for the late posting, but I was distracted by something shiny and bright. Well, hope you enjoy this chapter and don't worry I am determined to post more chapters very soon.

XXX

A Talk Over Tea V

There was a heavy silence in the room. Dumbledore scanned the faces of the House Heads that had arrived, they all looked grim and in the case of McGonagall, barely holding on to their rage.

He sighed, conjuring up a large kettle of tea and a platter of cookies. Everyone accepted a cup and a plate, but no one was drinking or eating.

"Well, there's no way to put it, Harry's been attacked." Dumbledore said.

McGonagall dripped her cup in a white knuckled grip. "Do we know who did it?" She asked.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No." He said simply.

"What was the extent of the damage?" Snape asked, McGonagall shot him a look.

"That's still being assessed as we speak. Pomfrey says he's lost a lot of blood, several bones badly broken, and other numerous injuries." Dumbledore sighed, taking a sip of his tea. McGonagall copied him, drinking convulsively and looking pale.

"How can such a thing happen?" Flitwick cried.

Dumbledore didn't know how to answer. Hogwarts was supposed to be a safe school.

"Potter does attract plenty of enemies. Could You Know Who be involved in this attack?" Snape asked.

Dumbledore shook his head. "This doesn't look like Voldemort's work. This is an attack of vengeance." He said.

"How can you tell?" Sprout asked.

Dumbledore closed his eyes. "By the fact that the wounds created were done to create as much pain and hurt as possible. This wasn't a simple act of rage, but a slow methodical act of almost torture." He said.

Flitwick was sobbing, Sprout patted him on the shoulders.

"We have to find out who did such a thing." McGonagall cried, rising to her feet.

Dumbledore nodded. "there will be a full investigation, hopefully Harry will be able to give us some answers once he awakens. Until then, we need to know what he was up to, where he went and who met him. We need to question everyone and everybody that was up and about early this morning."

"That makes half the castle." Snape remarked.

"Well we can narrow it down to those that have a dislike for Harry." McGonagall said. "There's only one person I know that's itching for revenge against Harry."

Snape frowned. "It could have been anyone." He said.

"Then you know who I'm talking about." McGonagall said, setting her cup down. "We need to question him and we need to get everything out of him."

"We shouldn't hastily jump to conclusions or begin pointing fingers at students." Snape snapped. "We have no evidence he was involved. To quickly cast judgment upon him is not only foolish its-"

"Harry beat him up a week ago! That's more of a motive than anything else. And you know the Malfoy's they're so full of their own self-worth and their twisted sense of honor." McGonagall roared cutting Snape off.

"Quiet." Dumbledore said. He didn't raise his voice, but both professors shut up. "Someone's committed a grievous crime upon the grounds of our school. If it weren't for a first year no one would have known Harry had been attacked and lay bleeding in a broom closet. We need to find out what happened and who did this. This means we must all cooperate and we must all question everyone who was up and about at the time Harry left the Hospital Wing."

"Blame will not be cast without evidence to back it up." McGonagall looked as if she had been slapped. "Unfortunately it seems that Draco is the first place to begin. He has a motive to seek revenge." Snape frowned furiously but said nothing. "Everyone will be questioned, all their stories must collected and compared. We will find our who did this and the appropriate punishment will be administered."

The professors nodded.

"Classes will be canceled this afternoon and we'll begin the questioning immediately." Dumbledore said. "You are all dismissed." The professors filed out, no one talking. Dumbledore sat in his chair for a moment and sighed, closing his eyes.