Author's Notes - Sorry the last chapter was short and didn't finish nicely
but I was late for English. Very happy author here, over a hundred reviews.
Sorry about the lack of Dudley in resent chapters but he is in this one. Or
a least in a bit of it, Oh and he's in the next one. I worked out the other
day that their were about another 24 chapters to come to this story, but I
think that will change, as the next chapter just came out og the wood work!
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*
-Chapter Fourteen-
Dumbledore's Shock
When Harry had finish McGonagall just stared at him in horror, she stammered at last, "and why Potter didn't you come and tell me this before?"
Harry suddenly felt guilty for not going to McGonagall or Dumbledore for help when both Ron and Hermione had begged him to last year. His reasons, now seemed stupid , but as he looked down at the scar on the back of his right hand he remembered. He remembered as if from another life his battle of will with Umbridge, the hours spend in detention with her, cutting into the back of his own hand the words 'I must not tell lies'. The Ministry of Magic's horrible Educational Decrees, coming out at increasingly regular intervals, which cut off one by one the things that made Harry's life at Hogwarts worth living.
"I didn't tell you because -" Harry hesitated, selling himself to carry on, "because there was nothing you could have done about it." He did not look at McGonagall as he said this, finding it much easier just to talk to the floor. When he did finial look at Professor McGonagall he found her staring at him in disbelief .
"Potter you should have told me sooner," she said after a long pause. "Is there anyone else," she shuddered, "who she did the same thing to or who you told?" McGonagall spoke in a gently almost kindly voice quite unlike her ordinary stern tones.
"Err- yes Professor, I told Ron and Hermione," Harry paused to think. "Oh yeah, she did the same thing to Lee Jordan. I don't think anyone el-"
"Thank you Potter," McGonagall said, suddenly returning to her normal tones. "I think you and I should go and have a chat with the Headmaster, Miss Weasley you'd better go back up to Gryffindor Tower."
A few minutes later McGonagall was knocking on Dumbledore's office door with the bronze knocker shaped like a griffin. The door swung open to revile Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, wand in hand.
"Ah, it's you Professor McGonagall and Mr Potter," his eyes were tickling under his half moon glasses. "Forgive me for not rising to greet you, but I a sorry to say my dear brother has been up to his tricks again, and this time he went a little too far."
McGonagall and Harry looked at him blankly so he continued, "he happened to find a muggle item used to fix things by sticking them back together. What is it they call it again - ah yes - super glue. Anyway he put this super glue all over my chair and I have been unable to find a spell to remove it." He gestated them to sit.
McGonagall looked alarmed, Harry was try hard, but not very successfully not to laugh as he took his seat. Dumbledore looked from Harry to McGonagall and said sharply, "is everything alright Minerva?" Putting his wand on the desk.
"No, Professor Dumbledore, I'm afraid it's not," McGonagall said glancing at Harry. "I would appear to Dolores Umbridge," she almost spat out Umbridge's name, "did even more than we feared."
Dumbledore stiffened in his chair, looked at Harry with that odd piercing glance that always made Harry feel that Dumbledore was reading his mind. Before raised one quizzical eyebrow, "how so?"
McGonagall too look at Harry, before answering, "you might remember that Potter landed himself in detention with Umbridge early last year."
Dumbledore nodded, "yes, yes. I remember. I made a point of asking her what she was going to do when she took detention. She said she would make to students write lines, and that seemed harmless enough so I did not ob-" Dumbledore stop, McGonagall had just tutted loudly. Harry was not looking at either of them, performing to examine his shoes. "I guess I was mistaken? What did she do?"
"Oh she do made him write lines, only-" McGonagall hesitated Harry could feel her eyes on him. "Only the quill she made him use was defined as a dark objected by the Wizengamot in 1872."
Harry heard a sharp intake of breathe, and it was Dumbledore who continued, " and subsequently its use was made punishable by up to six months in Azkban.
"Harry, is this true, what Professor McGonagall says?" Dumbledore spoke gently. Harry had expected him to be harsh, and his gentleness surprised him. Harry just nodded, unable to look at Dumbledore. "Come here."
Harry got up slowly and walked around Dumbledore's desk, "hold out your hand." He did as he was told; Dumbledore took Harry's hand with his own and traced the white scars that formed the words 'I must not tell lies'.
"Is this what you did every time you were in detention?" Dumbledore asked, Harry just nodded mutely. "And why didn't you tell anyone about this?"
"I did," Harry said finding his voice at last, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. Harry looked down at his shoes again. "I told Ron and Hermione."
"But why did you not tell Professor McGonagall or myself?" Dumbledore said in almost a hurt voice.
Harry looked up at that, unsure how to answer, but that feeling vanished as he looked into Dumbledore's blue eyes. Harry was then able to answer a question truthfully for the first time since Sirius died.
"It would have only made thing worse, if I'd told Professor McGonagall, Umbridge would have brought out some stupid Educational Decree that would had everyone who complained sacked, or something." Harry paused, "and I didn't tell you because- because." he could not continue. Both McGonagall and Dumbledore were staring at him as if he had just spouted three heads and was running around the office singing 'God save to Queen' at the top of his voice in his underwear!
At long last Dumbledore spoke, "you should have told me Harry."
Harry just shrugged, was not going to explain that he did not tell Dumbledore because he would not look at him. I seemed stupid to him now, like so much did since, since. It was strange being forced to remember how he had felt and why he had done the thing he had before - before Sirius had died, and before he had fond out.
Dumbledore was looking straight at him now, his light blue eyes, behind the half-moon glasses, was empty of their usual twinkle and full of concern and anger.
*
Transfiguration, on the following Monday, can best be described as interesting. They were still trying to turn cushions into badgers. Harry made a huge amount progress, McGonagall seemed to consider his lack of telling her about Umbridge as a personal insult and she was determent not to let him to it again. She spend far more time helping Harry with his transfiguration than the rest of the class put together.
Care of Magical Creatures on Tuesday proved to be more eventful, however. Hagrid had decided to show them Stink Swamp Rats, which were apply named, they were quite entertaining and harmless by Hagrid's usual standards. They only problem was within ten minutes the whole class was covered from head to toe, in green pond scum and mud. Hagrid let them go early in go and wash of the muck. Harry, Ron and Hermione were just laughing at Malfoy who had slipped and landed face first in the muck, when they passed a group of first years, who were having their first flying lesson.
"Oi, Potter it's your muggle cousin, let's see if he falls flat on his fat face," Malfoy had manage to get the pond scum off his face.
"He's not a muggle, he's a wizard," Hermione said automatically.
Harry turned to see Dudley trying to mount a broom, at the far end of the row of first years. The others kicked of the ground and rose a few feet into the air, before coming back down. Harry was impressed by them, most could fly, or stay in the air for awhile. Dudley, however, had not yet managed to get into the air, in fact he had not managed to get on his broom yet.
Then Dudley managed it, he managed to clamber on to his broom. He stayed on it for about two seconds before sliding off the back.
Malfoy was in his element, throwing abuse at Dudley and insults at Harry. They were too far away for Madam Hooch to stop him.
Harry knew the sensible thing to do would be to walk away, but he could not do it. He could not force his legs to work.
Dudley was trying fruitlessly to mount his broom again; suddenly he managed it and did not fall off the other end. The broom rose slowing into the air, getting higher and higher, before disaster. The broom had broken in two, Dudley was about fifteen feet above the ground when he fell.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
A/N sorry to leave it there, but I'm mean! Next chapter will be up as soon as I started and finish writing it.
Barfing - if you don't like it don't read it!
Anon - You voted twice! I'm going to keep writing until the end of seventh year. Yes Mark will be in it again, and his is in the fifth book, in the first chapter. When Harry and Dudley are talking before the Dementors, Harry says something like "I know you did Mark Evans last week". He lives in Harry's area, so I kinda took him! I thought it would be ironic to have someone who Dudley beats up getting his own back! Thanks for reviewing.
Bugsy - You where my 100th reviewer, thanks for reviewing.
Yami Rose - Thanks!
Aphrodite_k - Shot, I will. Thanks for reviewing.
mell5 - I'm sorry I ended the chapter there but I was late, you see. Dudley has an important part at the end, but Harry doesn't see him that much as he's a first year. But I can promise you that he is going to be in it soon. My problem is I tell the story through Harry's eyes and he doesn't see everything and he's quite thick about noticing things! Mark Evans will pop in and out he has a propose but it's not huge. I like Aberforth too, and I can believe you've had teachers with stranger habits, my old maths teacher used to sing to himself when we were writing tests, he'd walk around the room singing loudly. I'm glad you liked the bit with the socks, I think that's my fav bit at the moment, I'm planning on putting some more bits like that in, not too many just enough to keep me laughing! Anyway thanks for reviewing it means a lot to me.
Abluebird225 - I couldn't agree more! Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty - Ron will forgive Percy, just not straight away. Ablus Dumbledore is the younger brother not twin, I have enough twins in my life with out writing about more of them. Thanks for reviewing.
Sohalia Talitha - I'll try not to take that long to up date, and thanks for the offer I'll defiantly hold you to it! I don't think I could shut down even if I wanted to, I'm in too deep, I'll finish with story if I have to spend ten years doing it, heaven forbid. Anyway thank for reviewing it means a lot to me.
JeanMarie - That's what I like to hear! Thanks for reviewing to means a lot to me.
AngelFirenze - Sorry you've been out voted. I'm carrying on to seventh year like I'd planned to! I hope you don't mind too much! Thanks for reviewing.
bleugrl - I not going to end it, or rather I am, but there will be a sequel. I'm already planning it! Author smiles! Thanks for reviewing
Nyoko - Thanks I'm going to write up till the end of seventh year. I love to yet straight A's, but I don't think that is going to happen! My history teacher really scared me today by telling me that she expected me to got 85% plus in June, and I'm averaging 75& at the moment!!! Anyway thanks for reviewing.
Rhinemjr - Thanks, it means I lot to me. And I am certainly keeping going until seventh year. Thanks for reviewing.
Ssam - The best complement, thank you! I'm sorry to torture you, but I was late for English and if I'd been any late I would have ended up in DT. But I promise you I won't do it again, next time I just won't post until after English! Will that make you happy? I'll see about Harry and Ginny, I think J.K Rowling is definitely going that way but I don't now if I will. I haven't planned anything either way - it might just happen but then again it might not, I'll see what happens. I do feel honored, thanks for reviewing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
-Chapter Fourteen-
Dumbledore's Shock
When Harry had finish McGonagall just stared at him in horror, she stammered at last, "and why Potter didn't you come and tell me this before?"
Harry suddenly felt guilty for not going to McGonagall or Dumbledore for help when both Ron and Hermione had begged him to last year. His reasons, now seemed stupid , but as he looked down at the scar on the back of his right hand he remembered. He remembered as if from another life his battle of will with Umbridge, the hours spend in detention with her, cutting into the back of his own hand the words 'I must not tell lies'. The Ministry of Magic's horrible Educational Decrees, coming out at increasingly regular intervals, which cut off one by one the things that made Harry's life at Hogwarts worth living.
"I didn't tell you because -" Harry hesitated, selling himself to carry on, "because there was nothing you could have done about it." He did not look at McGonagall as he said this, finding it much easier just to talk to the floor. When he did finial look at Professor McGonagall he found her staring at him in disbelief .
"Potter you should have told me sooner," she said after a long pause. "Is there anyone else," she shuddered, "who she did the same thing to or who you told?" McGonagall spoke in a gently almost kindly voice quite unlike her ordinary stern tones.
"Err- yes Professor, I told Ron and Hermione," Harry paused to think. "Oh yeah, she did the same thing to Lee Jordan. I don't think anyone el-"
"Thank you Potter," McGonagall said, suddenly returning to her normal tones. "I think you and I should go and have a chat with the Headmaster, Miss Weasley you'd better go back up to Gryffindor Tower."
A few minutes later McGonagall was knocking on Dumbledore's office door with the bronze knocker shaped like a griffin. The door swung open to revile Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, wand in hand.
"Ah, it's you Professor McGonagall and Mr Potter," his eyes were tickling under his half moon glasses. "Forgive me for not rising to greet you, but I a sorry to say my dear brother has been up to his tricks again, and this time he went a little too far."
McGonagall and Harry looked at him blankly so he continued, "he happened to find a muggle item used to fix things by sticking them back together. What is it they call it again - ah yes - super glue. Anyway he put this super glue all over my chair and I have been unable to find a spell to remove it." He gestated them to sit.
McGonagall looked alarmed, Harry was try hard, but not very successfully not to laugh as he took his seat. Dumbledore looked from Harry to McGonagall and said sharply, "is everything alright Minerva?" Putting his wand on the desk.
"No, Professor Dumbledore, I'm afraid it's not," McGonagall said glancing at Harry. "I would appear to Dolores Umbridge," she almost spat out Umbridge's name, "did even more than we feared."
Dumbledore stiffened in his chair, looked at Harry with that odd piercing glance that always made Harry feel that Dumbledore was reading his mind. Before raised one quizzical eyebrow, "how so?"
McGonagall too look at Harry, before answering, "you might remember that Potter landed himself in detention with Umbridge early last year."
Dumbledore nodded, "yes, yes. I remember. I made a point of asking her what she was going to do when she took detention. She said she would make to students write lines, and that seemed harmless enough so I did not ob-" Dumbledore stop, McGonagall had just tutted loudly. Harry was not looking at either of them, performing to examine his shoes. "I guess I was mistaken? What did she do?"
"Oh she do made him write lines, only-" McGonagall hesitated Harry could feel her eyes on him. "Only the quill she made him use was defined as a dark objected by the Wizengamot in 1872."
Harry heard a sharp intake of breathe, and it was Dumbledore who continued, " and subsequently its use was made punishable by up to six months in Azkban.
"Harry, is this true, what Professor McGonagall says?" Dumbledore spoke gently. Harry had expected him to be harsh, and his gentleness surprised him. Harry just nodded, unable to look at Dumbledore. "Come here."
Harry got up slowly and walked around Dumbledore's desk, "hold out your hand." He did as he was told; Dumbledore took Harry's hand with his own and traced the white scars that formed the words 'I must not tell lies'.
"Is this what you did every time you were in detention?" Dumbledore asked, Harry just nodded mutely. "And why didn't you tell anyone about this?"
"I did," Harry said finding his voice at last, Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. Harry looked down at his shoes again. "I told Ron and Hermione."
"But why did you not tell Professor McGonagall or myself?" Dumbledore said in almost a hurt voice.
Harry looked up at that, unsure how to answer, but that feeling vanished as he looked into Dumbledore's blue eyes. Harry was then able to answer a question truthfully for the first time since Sirius died.
"It would have only made thing worse, if I'd told Professor McGonagall, Umbridge would have brought out some stupid Educational Decree that would had everyone who complained sacked, or something." Harry paused, "and I didn't tell you because- because." he could not continue. Both McGonagall and Dumbledore were staring at him as if he had just spouted three heads and was running around the office singing 'God save to Queen' at the top of his voice in his underwear!
At long last Dumbledore spoke, "you should have told me Harry."
Harry just shrugged, was not going to explain that he did not tell Dumbledore because he would not look at him. I seemed stupid to him now, like so much did since, since. It was strange being forced to remember how he had felt and why he had done the thing he had before - before Sirius had died, and before he had fond out.
Dumbledore was looking straight at him now, his light blue eyes, behind the half-moon glasses, was empty of their usual twinkle and full of concern and anger.
*
Transfiguration, on the following Monday, can best be described as interesting. They were still trying to turn cushions into badgers. Harry made a huge amount progress, McGonagall seemed to consider his lack of telling her about Umbridge as a personal insult and she was determent not to let him to it again. She spend far more time helping Harry with his transfiguration than the rest of the class put together.
Care of Magical Creatures on Tuesday proved to be more eventful, however. Hagrid had decided to show them Stink Swamp Rats, which were apply named, they were quite entertaining and harmless by Hagrid's usual standards. They only problem was within ten minutes the whole class was covered from head to toe, in green pond scum and mud. Hagrid let them go early in go and wash of the muck. Harry, Ron and Hermione were just laughing at Malfoy who had slipped and landed face first in the muck, when they passed a group of first years, who were having their first flying lesson.
"Oi, Potter it's your muggle cousin, let's see if he falls flat on his fat face," Malfoy had manage to get the pond scum off his face.
"He's not a muggle, he's a wizard," Hermione said automatically.
Harry turned to see Dudley trying to mount a broom, at the far end of the row of first years. The others kicked of the ground and rose a few feet into the air, before coming back down. Harry was impressed by them, most could fly, or stay in the air for awhile. Dudley, however, had not yet managed to get into the air, in fact he had not managed to get on his broom yet.
Then Dudley managed it, he managed to clamber on to his broom. He stayed on it for about two seconds before sliding off the back.
Malfoy was in his element, throwing abuse at Dudley and insults at Harry. They were too far away for Madam Hooch to stop him.
Harry knew the sensible thing to do would be to walk away, but he could not do it. He could not force his legs to work.
Dudley was trying fruitlessly to mount his broom again; suddenly he managed it and did not fall off the other end. The broom rose slowing into the air, getting higher and higher, before disaster. The broom had broken in two, Dudley was about fifteen feet above the ground when he fell.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
A/N sorry to leave it there, but I'm mean! Next chapter will be up as soon as I started and finish writing it.
Barfing - if you don't like it don't read it!
Anon - You voted twice! I'm going to keep writing until the end of seventh year. Yes Mark will be in it again, and his is in the fifth book, in the first chapter. When Harry and Dudley are talking before the Dementors, Harry says something like "I know you did Mark Evans last week". He lives in Harry's area, so I kinda took him! I thought it would be ironic to have someone who Dudley beats up getting his own back! Thanks for reviewing.
Bugsy - You where my 100th reviewer, thanks for reviewing.
Yami Rose - Thanks!
Aphrodite_k - Shot, I will. Thanks for reviewing.
mell5 - I'm sorry I ended the chapter there but I was late, you see. Dudley has an important part at the end, but Harry doesn't see him that much as he's a first year. But I can promise you that he is going to be in it soon. My problem is I tell the story through Harry's eyes and he doesn't see everything and he's quite thick about noticing things! Mark Evans will pop in and out he has a propose but it's not huge. I like Aberforth too, and I can believe you've had teachers with stranger habits, my old maths teacher used to sing to himself when we were writing tests, he'd walk around the room singing loudly. I'm glad you liked the bit with the socks, I think that's my fav bit at the moment, I'm planning on putting some more bits like that in, not too many just enough to keep me laughing! Anyway thanks for reviewing it means a lot to me.
Abluebird225 - I couldn't agree more! Thanks for reviewing.
Athenakitty - Ron will forgive Percy, just not straight away. Ablus Dumbledore is the younger brother not twin, I have enough twins in my life with out writing about more of them. Thanks for reviewing.
Sohalia Talitha - I'll try not to take that long to up date, and thanks for the offer I'll defiantly hold you to it! I don't think I could shut down even if I wanted to, I'm in too deep, I'll finish with story if I have to spend ten years doing it, heaven forbid. Anyway thank for reviewing it means a lot to me.
JeanMarie - That's what I like to hear! Thanks for reviewing to means a lot to me.
AngelFirenze - Sorry you've been out voted. I'm carrying on to seventh year like I'd planned to! I hope you don't mind too much! Thanks for reviewing.
bleugrl - I not going to end it, or rather I am, but there will be a sequel. I'm already planning it! Author smiles! Thanks for reviewing
Nyoko - Thanks I'm going to write up till the end of seventh year. I love to yet straight A's, but I don't think that is going to happen! My history teacher really scared me today by telling me that she expected me to got 85% plus in June, and I'm averaging 75& at the moment!!! Anyway thanks for reviewing.
Rhinemjr - Thanks, it means I lot to me. And I am certainly keeping going until seventh year. Thanks for reviewing.
Ssam - The best complement, thank you! I'm sorry to torture you, but I was late for English and if I'd been any late I would have ended up in DT. But I promise you I won't do it again, next time I just won't post until after English! Will that make you happy? I'll see about Harry and Ginny, I think J.K Rowling is definitely going that way but I don't now if I will. I haven't planned anything either way - it might just happen but then again it might not, I'll see what happens. I do feel honored, thanks for reviewing.