Chapter Twenty Six: Confrontations
Albus Dumbledore stood in his office early that morning, wondering what, if anything, could be said at that morning's breakfast to quell the rumors that were sure to be making the rounds. Many things had happened in Gryffindor Tower lately, and while young Miss Brown and her followers were good hearted, worthy of the Gryffindor badge of bravery, they liked to talk entirely too much.
First was the rumor that Ginny Weasley hadn't been sleeping in her own bed the occasional night. Albus knew the reason, knew that the bond between Ginny and Harry allowed her to know when he needed her close. And as a true Gryffindor, with a goodly dose of the legendary Weasley family loyalty, she did what he needed of her, and went to him. Miss Smith and their dormmates had made rather a lot of that, within the Tower, actually. But it had stayed, up until now, largely within the Gryffindor Tower.
Now, with the Six being assigned to new classes, with the loss of Harry and the Weasley siblings from the Gryffindor Quidditch team... well, tongues would be wagging.
Yes, the rumor mill would be active today. The question was, should he fan the flames or douse them?
"Albus?" Minerva McGonagall entered. "Are you coming?"
"Yes, Minerva, I shall be right there."
"Still unsure of what to say?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I am."
"Then why say anything at all?"
"Because the rumors..."
"The talk will happen regardless, Albus. You know this," she said softly.
"Yes, but perhaps we can make it less damaging..."
"Damage could be done if the true nature of things is revealed. Perhaps it is better that Voldemort hears speculation rather than the truth."
"Perhaps you are correct, once again, Minerva," he nodded. "So, we should simply allow it to..."
"Die a natural death? It is my belief that that may be best, Albus."
"Perhaps you are correct, yet again, my friend," he smiled, following her out the door and into the corridor outside his offices.
"One would think you would have been rather more accepting of that after all these years, Albus," she smiled, leading the way down the grand staircase to the Entrance Hall and the Great Hall beyond.
"I don't like it," Ron muttered.
"Well, I don't like it, either, Ron, but there's nothing we can do," Hermione said, sitting down across from him at the breakfast table.
They had both been asked, innumerable times since waking that morning, exactly what was going on, and as they were unwilling to clarify anything for anyone, the speculation was getting out of control.
"Hey, Weasel! I hear your sister is doing the..." Malfoy began, only to stop when Ron stood and looked down on him.
"You were saying, Ferret boy?" Ron growled, leaning intimidatingly over the shorter boy.
Malfoy gulped, then sneered. "I hear she and Potter are going to get expelled for doing the wild thing in the Room of Requirement..."
"Is that right?" Ron stepped closer to him. "You know, Malferret... you ought to come to the DA meetings... Harry's teaching us a lot of... interesting... things."
"Really? I'm shaking," Malfoy said snidely.
"As well you should..." Ron smiled in a rather feral manner, reaching out for Malfoy's robes, but stopping an inch away. His voice not lowered a bit, he continued to smile as he looked into the ice-gray eyes of his nemesis. "After all, we wouldn't want another... infestation, now would we? Pansy didn't mind then?"
Malfoy's face went white, and he stepped back a pace.
"Stay away from me..." he said under his breath.
"You stay away from us, and keep your mouth shut, and we won't have any problems, Malfoy. Just remember, I'm bigger than you, and I don't like you very much. It wouldn't take a lot for me to curse you into next week right now, as my patience is very, very thin."
Malfoy glanced at Crabbe and Goyle, standing to either side of him, and turned, a swagger in his step.
"You keep thinking that, Weasel, but so far as I'm concerned, all the rumors can't be wrong, and the Weaslette and Potter are..." he said.
And in that moment, Ron lost control. Perhaps if Hermione had been sitting beside him, rather than across the table from him, she might have been able to do something, but the fact was, it took her several stunned seconds to jump over the table, and Neville, who had been sitting beside Ron was no help at all... he was far too busy jumping Crabbe with fists flailing while Ron picked up Malfoy by the scruff of his neck and threw him down on the ground.
Dean and Seamus, taking one look at each other, launched themselves over the table and jumped on Goyle.
And it took several stunners launched from the teachers' table to stop the fight. Snape practically flew down the centre aisle, releasing his spells on Dean and Ron, as Dumbledore arrived at his side, and Remus close behind.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape said in a deathly quiet voice.
"He attacked me! He attacked me from behind and hit me!" Malfoy was squealing.
Ron remained obstinately silent.
"Mister Weasley?" Dumbledore looked at him. Ron met his look with an icy glare of his own.
"There are some things that a bloke will not allow to be said about his sister, sir," Ron said quietly.
"I see," Dumbledore turned to look at Malfoy. "Mr Malfoy...?"
"I didn't say anything! Why would I have to? Everyone knows..."
"No one," Snape said his hand gripping Malfoy's shoulder cruelly. "Knows anything, Mr Malfoy... least of all you. Rather than speculate, perhaps it would be better to close your mouth and open your ears occasionally, as that is a far more useful skill than blathering your way through life with a limited intellect. You have an annoying habit of speaking out of turn. It is one that I am sure, certain parties do not admire."
Malfoy looked at Snape with a dangerous glint in his eye.
"Mr Weasley... twenty points from Gryffindor for physically attacking Mr Malfoy..." Snape said. None present, even the teachers, said a word. Ron nodded once, stiffly, and turned to sit down and finish his breakfast, only to be stopped by Snape's voice. "And Mr Malfoy, there will be twenty points taken from Slytherin House for your... speculation and disregard for logical behavior. Even an idiot knows better than to poke a lion with a stick, and I do not like having idiots associated with my house."
Shortly after, Harry and Ginny came through the doors from the Entrance Hall and immediately walked to where the others were seated and sat down. Noting the silence, not to mention the curious eyes looking at them from all over the Great Hall, Harry looked at Ron through narrowed eyes.
"What happened?"
Ron looked up at him, taking in the tired look on Harry's face.
"Malfoy," he said after a minute.
"What about Malfoy?" Harry stiffened.
"We..." Ron glanced at Neville. "Nev and Dean and Seamus and I... we had to put the little ferret straight on a few things. Nothing you need to be worried about."
"Ron?" Harry looked straight at his friend.
"He was saying things about Gin..." Ron admitted.
"But he won't be doing it again," Neville said, confidently.
"What kind of things?"
"Speculation, Harry," Ron said softly. "Nothing more. We took care of it."
"Took care of it? How?" Harry asked, his eyes narrowed.
"I damned near threw the little bastard..." Ron flushed. "Anyhow, the teachers noticed, so I didn't get much in, but he understands better, now."
"I should hope so," Harry looked over to the Slytherin table to find Malfoy staring intently at him, a bitter look on his face. Harry met his gaze levelly, his green eyes sparking.
Malfoy looked away first.
After that, the morning improved remarkably. The six were summoned to Dumbledore's office after breakfast, and went to find not only the headmaster, but Remus Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-Eye, Snape and McGonagall in attendance.
"Sir?" Harry looked around the room.
"Harry, come in..." Dumbledore gestured for the group to enter. "We need to discuss..."
"Sir, if this is about what happened at breakfast..." Ron began.
"Indeed, it is, Mr Weasley," Dumbledore said gravely. "How insightful of you."
"Malfoy started it!" Hermione said quickly. "What he was saying..."
"We are aware of the... sequence of events, Miss Granger," Dumbledore nodded. "However, I have realized that our plans must... well, perhaps I was being optimistic..." he glanced at McGonagall. "We cannot have it as general knowledge that things are... changed... and I have allowed it. While we must do everything we can to prepare you, we still have a school to run. Unfortunately, several decisions that have been made with regard to the six of you are directly counter to that..."
"Like?" Harry asked. He didn't like the way this discussion was going.
"Such as," Dumbledore turned twinkling eyes on the boy. "My seeming disregard of the fact that Miss Weasley spends more nights in your bed than in her own."
Harry reddened, but it wasn't clear if it was embarrassment or anger. "You know the reason why..."
"I know, Mr Potter, as do the other teachers..." he nodded. "But the perception on the part of other students who are not party to the... true facts... is that I have become lax with the rules. Professor Snape has already had... difficulties in his own dormitories."
Harry turned his eyes to Snape in time to catch the small shudder the older man gave. He didn't want to think about what it was Snape had had the misfortune to interrupt.
"It's perfectly innocent," Harry muttered. "I've never..."
"I know, Harry. And those who care about you know, as well. But speculation is rife... and not just about that. There is already speculation on why you've been pulled from some classes. All of you. I would suggest..."
"What?"
"You will be withdrawing from all class activities as of right now..."
"You're chucking us?" Ron's voice rose with anger. "How can you bloody chuck us?"
"Ron!" Hermione grabbed his arm as he stepped forward.
"You're unbelievable!" Ron wasn't about to be stopped from his tirade. "Harry has done everything...everything you have told him to do... even when it was wrong. And now, because he's causing a stir with the other students..."
"No, Mr Weasley," McGonagall stepped forward. "Would you please listen?"
"It would appear, Minerva," Snape said snidely. "That members of my house are not the only ones who have difficulty with that skill."
Minerva glared at the potions professor, and in a low voice, replied, "Perhaps, Severus. However, at least Gryffindor students take a stand based on belief, not scoring points off each other in childish games of one-upmanship."
Snape's eyes popped, and McGonagall turned back to Ron, looking up because the young man easily topped her by a foot.
"Mr Weasley... listen."
Ron turned back to the headmaster, his lips pursed tightly together.
"I apologise, Mr Weasley, if I gave you the impression that we were abandoning you. That is not the case. As a matter of fact, it couldn't be further from the truth, although it will certainly look that way to the other students and, needless to say, others who hear the rumors of the school. We shall, of course, encourage that supposition."
"So, exactly what are we talking about here?" Harry said. "The other students are going to be led to believe we've all been expelled..."
At this, Hermione gasped.
"Yes, Harry. To all intents and purposes, that is what it will look like. However, we will let the very healthy Hogwarts rumor mill do most of that work for us."
"So where will we be, then?"
"Right here," Dumbledore smiled. "The best place for you to learn. Hogwarts."
"But..."
"There is a private wing, over the kitchens. A rather large apartment that I understand was once used for visiting dignitaries. It has been closed up for some time. Well, until this morning."
"This morning?"
"I have instructed the... staff," Dumbledore glanced at Hermione, whose eyes narrowed at this, "to clean out these apartments. There are several rooms, quite a large space, actually. Comparable to the Gryffindor Tower itself."
"And...?" Ron glanced around.
"You shall be moved there. You will no longer be attending classes with the general student population, but the teachers will be instructing you as a group. It will be intense, but you have all indicated a wish to be... involved. Therefore, you will be. You all understand the necessity of certain things to be allowed... and within your apartments, you will be able to continue in the way you see fit," at this, he looked towards Ron and Hermione, then smiled.
"You mean, the six of us will be moving into these..."
"Eight," Remus said.
"Eight?"
"Tonks and I are going to join you... as... chaperones."
"Chaperones?" Ron squeaked.
"Heads of House, if you like," Remus grinned.
"Heads..."
"Yes, Harry. Heads of House," Dumbledore smiled. "It is time we began to take the requirements of your training, and the training of those who have chosen to stand behind you, more seriously."
Harry looked up at him, his eyes concerned. "What about the DA?"
"You will not be able to continue, Harry. We do not want you, or your friends, seen here."
"But... the others... they need to learn..."
"Professors Lupin and Tonks will be continuing to teach DADA, and I'm sure that there is someone within the group of students I might appoint to... carry on? Or perhaps, several someones?"
Harry swallowed. At least it would continue.
"Seamus... and Dean. Lavender Brown," he said, the words catching in his throat. He hadn't realized how much he wanted to teach the class. "Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley would help, I'm sure. Blaise Zabini."
At this, Snape's eyebrows rose.
"He's good, Professor," Harry said.
"Very good, Harry," the Headmaster spoke softly. "I shall meet with them today." Dumbledore sat forward in his seat. "There will be some other changes, as well. Kingsley here has suggested four sessions a week with different aurors..."
"Four?" Harry said. "I'm not sure that that will be enough..."
"Oh, it'll be enough, Harry," Kingsley smiled, a rather frightening glint in his eyes. "Trust me."
"Kingsley and Alastor Moody have both volunteered to assist in your training. Between them and Remus and Tonks, I think it will be plenty," Dumbledore smiled. "At least, at first. You will all be taking your classes independent of the rest of the school, and while you will have the support of your professors, you must understand that you will need to help each other, as well. You each have strengths... you will have to share them."
Harry glanced over at Hermione, then Ron. His two best friends. He knew each of them almost as well as he knew himself. Hermione's ability to research and Ron's planning and strategy would be invaluable.
"So, how are we going to be able to use the school resources... the library, and the potions lab..." his eye caught on Neville. "The greenhouses, without being seen?"
"It will take some thought and effort, but it is not impossible, Harry. After all, you've managed to get about the school without being seen for years now, haven't you?" Dumbledore smiled.
"So we just... disappear?"
"Not... quite," Dumbledore smiled again. Harry could almost see a light of mischief come into his eyes. "Not quite."
"I can't believe we're doing this," Harry muttered.
"Hey, it could be fun!" Ron laughed.
"Only you would think that, mate," Harry said. "Remus must have been in on the planning of this."
"Oh, I think you can guarantee that," a whispered voice came from beside them. Tonks, covered in her Invisibility cloak giggled.
"Tonks, stay well out of the way, okay?" Harry said. "I don't want to hit you with a stray... curse."
"Harry... charms only," Hermione said under her breath.
"You'd think that my sleeping with Harry in his dorm would be enough to get us chucked," Ginny said. "But if we have to go down in a blaze of glory, I, for one, like Remus' plan!"
"There he is..." Ron muttered as Neville stepped up beside him.
"Well, well, look what we have here... Potty and his groupies," Malfoy glanced at Ginny, the look in his eyes saying what he didn't need to. His ice-gray eyes strayed next to Hermione, and Luna. "So, is he doing you two, as well? Foursomes, now?"
"Oi, Malferret," Ron's face turned red, and Harry thought he'd gone beyond the act now. Especially after the rather lustful way Malfoy had looked at Hermione. "What did I tell you?"
"You mean you can't remember, Weasley? I'm not surprised..." Malfoy glanced back at Crabbe and Goyle who were standing several feet off. "After all, you are working with the limited intellect of a muggle-lover..."
"I'd watch what I said, Malfoy," Ginny said, holding her ground next to Harry.
"Would you, Weaslette? Funny, I'd rather watch..."
"Careful, Malfoy," Harry said softly, his undertone carrying.
"Potter... I've been meaning to ask you," Malfoy swaggered over to stand a few feet in front of Harry. "Is she... well... one hears that the lower classes have less... inhibitions. Is she as wild in bed as out of it? If so, I might..."
Ron made an abrupt movement, only to be stilled by Harry's hand on his arm. There wasn't a large enough crowd yet, although it was gathering steadily around them.
"Hold off, Ron..." Harry murmured. "Wait for it..."
"Well? Potter?" Malfoy raised his voice, aware of the growing crowd of students watching and almost tasting his victory. "Is she a good fu..."
Which was as far as he got. Harry, Neville, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna leveled their wands in unison, and shot an amazing array of charms at Malfoy and his cronies. Malfoy, taken completely by surprise, was hit by several. Hermione apparently used her rather dark if effective charm on him, causing him to squirm uncomfortably, then stop in horror as the effects of Neville's itching charm hit him. Coupled with the obscure spell that Luna had used, causing a rather impressive set of antlers to sprout from his well-coiffed head, Malfoy was suitable cowed. He howled with anger as the others turned their wands on Crabbe and Goyle, who were suffering from Ron and Ginny's combined bat-bogey hexes.
All in all, it went off without a hitch. Just as the three Slytherins were about to turn tail and run, Harry stepped forward, using binding spells on them. Ron and Neville stood over Malfoy's two thugs, while Harry leaned down, his face inches from Malfoy's terrified eyes.
"Remember this, Malfoy... I've had enough. I've had enough of you, I've had enough of your bloody father and his little club of miscreants, and I've had enough of Tom Riddle. From now on, someone attacks me, or mine, I will counter-attack, twice as hard, twice as fast, and you will not see it coming. Got me?"
"Mr Potter!" Harry and the others all turned to look as Professors Snape and McGonagall pushed through the crowd.
"Mr Potter... Weasley..." McGonagall rushed up, her face firmly drawn into lines of anger, although Harry could see the amusement in her eyes as she glanced at the antlers adorning Malfoy's head. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Professor McGonagall..." Hermione's voice held just the right amount of guilt. "I..."
"I did not ask you to speak, Miss Granger... Potter? What happened?"
"I think it is apparent what happened, Professor," Snape said dryly, having released Malfoy and his goons from their binding spells, and looking askance at the antlers himself. With a flick of his wand and the muttered incantation, he freed Crabbe and Goyle from their bat-bogey hexes, and Malfoy stopped squirming with discomfort. He also stopped scratching.
Strangely, the antlers remained.
"Potter?"
"I won't put up with it any longer, Professor," Harry stood his ground, eyeing the elderly witch. "I've had enough of it. From now on, if Malfoy confronts me, then Malfoy gets what he came looking for."
"Self-control, Mr Potter, is..."
"Professor!" Harry turned angry eyes to her. "I've had enough. If Malfoy continues to push, then he'll get what's coming. And that goes for his git of a father, as well. Not to mention Voldemort..."
"Mr Potter!" McGonagall's eyes danced. It could have been from anger, but Harry knew that it was from mirth. The old, uptight witch was enjoying this!
Harry stilled, not saying anything more.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor House for attacking a student, regardless of the motivation," McGonagall said. "Professor Snape?"
"Ten points from each of you for your stupidity," Snape spat at his own three students. "Each of you will report to the dungeons for remedial lessons in listening and keeping your mouths shut tonight at seven. Understood?"
Malfoy nodded, then, with a final glare at Harry, turned and strode down the corridor, his two goons behind him. Apparently he was oblivious to the fact that it was difficult to make a grand exit sporting his current headgear.
"The rest of you, come with me," McGonagall said primly. "You too, Miss Lovegood. This situation warrants an interview with the Headmaster."
Turning, she strode away, and the others followed her, Harry in the lead, through the crowd of awed and silent students.
It was hard not to smile.
Reviews are lovely. Reviews feed the muse. Reviews make me understand why I post here. You're all so lovely!
MysticRuby: You're very welcome!
Medieval Woman: I strongly suspect my muse has been up to no good. More on that later.
Sabine Strohem-Moss: Glad you liked it... GO AND STUDY! (That's my Molly voice... did it work?)
DkandMax: Nope, I'll take all of it I can get. Bring it on! I may take you up on your offer... I'll be in touch when I've got it figured out.
Merlindamage: Thanks! And.. I KNOW she would!
Kordolin: Never enough for you people, is it? (grin)
LarnaMandrea: One does ones best...
Gee-Unit: Yeah, the muse is exceptionally happy today for some reason... she's been confusing the heck out of me, too.
BJ: Far be it from me to add to the stress level in the life of a student in the middle of exams! Like I've said before, I write this stuff (well, besides that pesky 'compulsion' thing), to fill in the amazingly long and ANNOYING chunk of time between JKR's books... although rumor has it the wait may soon be over for Half-Blood Prince...
Candor: And I like your pen name! Excellent name for a reviewer!
Pdlegirl: I'm happy you're happy! Everyone seems to be doing their happy dance today... my muse is positively joyful!
Nebulia: Of course you're a lovely reviewer – and there is no such thing as immaturity here... well, when someone flames me, I get to call them that. But not when you're reviewing so nicely! Be hyper all you want... I had a night not too long ago when I OD'd on Starburst Fruits and poor James Milamber had to talk me down... we all have them. But I'm off caffeine now, so mine are getting more rare...
MrsSakuraPotter: Glad to hear you're going to be okay... I had no idea that the cliffie was going to have that much of an effect!
Kordolin: "Moving along?" I should hope so, as there are only four chapters left, including this one!
HpandGWfan: I know what you mean... I'm beginning to become sleep deprived myself...
LifeIsGood: You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome! (And thanks!)
PCB: I thought so!
Mehgan: Make this deal, tell him HE can name the boys if YOU get to name the girls. Works every time.
Sumer's Girl: Now would I leave it like that? Come on!
KittiesRule878: Two, nine and eleven. Monsters, I tell ya.
XiaoXiao: Neither can I, actually!
CQ