Harry Potter and the Betrayal of the Phoenix

Chapter 11 - Repercussions and Confessions

Disclaimer:  I own nothing and will not profit from this.  Let a guy have some fun!  Longer note at the bottom.

The next morning everyone knew what had happened the night prior, due to the familiar shriek of Molly Weasley's voice…Ron had gotten a howler.

"Ronald Weasley, never before have I ever been as ashamed as I am right now.  Attacking a fellow student is uncalled for, no matter the circumstances.  You deserve whatever you have coming to you, although I know you lost your Prefect Badge, rightfully so.  You should thank your lucky stars you weren't expelled for this!  Next time I see you, you are in a heap of trouble.  Did you even think about your father?  Imagine what this will do to him now that he's Ministry.  Absolutely unforgivable.  And if you haven't apologized by the time you get this howler, which I will know, you are in even MORE trouble."

Mrs. Weasley was right. Notice has been posted that the 6th year male Gryffindor prefect was no longer Ron Weasley…but instead

"LONGBOTTOM" shouted Draco from across the hall, "How could they make LONGBOTTOM a PREFECT?  It's better than Potter or Weasel, but come on!  LONGBOTTOM!  HAH!"

"Congrats Neville.  You deserve it," said Harry at the Gryffindor table, "especially after all that happened last year.  Also," leaned Harry in as he whispered in Neville's ear, "I am sure that your parents are so proud of you right now.  I am sure they know what happened."

"Thanks Harry."

"Anytime.  I got to get going to Potions, I'll catcha later."

"Harry, wait up!" exclaimed an anxious Hermione, "I want to chat with you on the way."

"Ok.  What do you want to know?"

"Harry, what happened last night?  All I know if McGonagall told me to start training Neville, as Ron had attacked another student and was no longer a prefect."

"He tried to attack Blaise, but I stopped him in time."

"He really did do it then?  I thought Blaise must have made it up!"

"Why would you think that?"

"Well…she is a Slytherin"

"Not you too!"

"Well, I know you can't completely judge them based off what house they are in…but I thought I knew Ron well enough to know he would never attack someone."

"I thought so too.  Guess we were both wrong."

"Harry…I have to find out why Ron did it. I mean…I know you two had a big fight and all, but I have to know what's going on with him.  I just can't stop being his friend over this…I need to be there for him.  He doesn't really have anyone else…I can't stand to lose him…"

"Hermy, I know.  I was actually waiting for you to tell me that.  Its because…"

"I think I may have a crush on him, but if he has changed so much then obviously I thought wrong."

"Understood Hermione.  I'll talk with you later…Class is about to start."

As soon as Harry began to move towards his usual seat, next to Blaise, he was shocked to see Malfoy was sitting in his seat, and had no plans on moving.  Shrugging, Harry sat down next to Justin and began to think about what was going on.

What an odd morning.  I knew Hermione had a crush on Ron…I'm kinda glad she didn't have one on me…that would have been too strange for words.  I'm glad Neville got Prefect instead of me…I've got way too much to think about now without the responsibilities, although I wish I had been asked, but I understand…Neville really does deserve it.  Like the time he tried to stop me, Hermione and Ron from going after the Sorcerer's Stone…best not go down that train of thought.  And what was up with Malfoy today?  He seems at least civil to me up till this day, then he turns back into the Malfoy we all know and hate.  What happened there?

Harry finished the rest of the days classes with ease, although as usual DADA was as uncomfortable as could be with Ron and Blaise in the same class, but Lupin had obviously been told what happened and had put the two in opposite sides of the room, and the days lecture all about the curse Odium, and why to never ever use it.

That night, Harry went to study in the library like he normally did, and sat down next to Blaise, who was actively reading one of their books for DADA.  Unlike normal, the two of them hardly spoke to each other.  Harry didn't want to bring up what had happened the night prior, so just kept to himself instead.

Blaise stumbled and fell on to Harry as they were walking out of the library.  Harry noticed as Blaise slipped a note in his bag

"Pigeon,

I need to talk with you privately, and it's urgent.  You seem to know more about Hogwarts than any other student…do you know somewhere we can go where we can be alone to talk…and a way to get there without anybody seeing it?  I know it sounds strange, but I'll explain everything later.  Meet me in the Great Hall during Breakfast on Saturday, and when you get up to leave I will to, and we can leave from there.  Please don't tell anyone about this…I'll explain it on Saturday.

-Parakeet"

What an odd note…I wonder what she has to talk to me about.  Shouldn't be a big problem…I'll grab the invisibility cloak and stuff it in my bag, and take her to either the Room of Requirement or to my Trunk…that might be better considering only like, three people know the details on the trunk, and a lot more know about the Room of Requirement.  Her note sounds ominous though…I wonder what's going on.

Harry followed through with his plan, met up with Blaise, and took her to the Gryffindor tower, underneath Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and to his trunk.

After they got settled down on the fifth compartment of his trunk, Blaise finally opened up.

"Harry…I am sorry for the secrecy, but this meeting would never have happened if it wasn't for the secrecy.  I have to be honest with you…something that I haven't done all year.  At the beginning of the year, Malfoy came to me with a plan.  Well, not so much a plan, rather than a demand.  He had gotten a copy of the class rosters for the year, and he saw how many classes we would have together, and he mentioned that in a couple of the classes we would be paired up.  I don't know how he knew, but he knew somehow.  He told me that we were to get close to each other, or Lord Voldemort would come after my family.  My family is one of the few who resisted him the first time, and Voldemort was waiting for an excuse to go after them.  He told me I had to spy on you and to get close so Voldemort could use the closeness as a weakness, and I had no choice to obey.

But all of that changed Harry.  All of it changed after I found out who you really were, not just that "Potter" who was Slytherin's worst nightmare.  After that first class, when we started talking about what makes something evil, I knew I couldn't go through with it.  The first report I have with Malfoy and Voldemort was last night, and I fibbed my way through, and they could tell.  They killed my cousin in front of my eyes last night as a warning., and I don't know what to do Harry.  I can't do what Malfoy wants me to, but I can't say no, because the rest of my family will die for it.  Harry, I need to know what to do…"

Harry took a moment to think about it.  "Blaise.  Go talk to Dumbledore and tell him everything you just told me."

"Will you come with me?"

"I can't right now."

"You can't?"

"No.  I need to think about this for a while.  Please…just…take my cloak to get out of the Tower and go to Dumbledore."

"If you say so Harry.  And Harry," she paused as she waited at the steps, "I am sorry."  And with that, Blaise left Harry's trunk.

What can I do about this.  Malfoy.  Why does Malfoy always try to screw up my life?  Last year.  The DA.  Sirius.  Every year's classes.  Chamber of Secrets.  Who's the Real Champion now.  I just can't believe Malfoy would blackmail Blaise into doing something like this.  Is there anyone I can trust anymore?  If Blaise was deceitful about everything up until this point, how can I trust that she isn't being deceitful now?  Obviously, Blaise needs to go report to Malfoy and to Voldemort, although I can't imagine what about.  How can I ask someone to be a double agent?  How could anyone ask someone else to be a double agent?  She's got a family to worry about…I don't have that concern anymore.  Here comes Corning with a letter.  It's from Dumbledore, shocker there.  He wants to meet with my in his office immediately.  I doubt he has a solution either.

A/N: Sorry it took, well, forever.  Life got busy, and when Jury Duty calls you have to go, so my apologies!  Below is a quote from the Democratic candidate for President Dennis Kucinich (www.kucinich.us , and he's got my full support), and I thought it was just too awesome not to share (and its about Harry Potter too!)  See you next time!

"I just came from Newton, Iowa, where I was one of five Democratic Presidential candidates, and was asked a question relating to cuts in educational spending. I told this story of how in Washington there is this sculpture above the entrance to the House of Representatives of a woman whose arm is outstretched, protecting a child who is happily sitting on top of a pile of books. The title of the sculpture is 'Peace protecting genius.' Then I went on to say that I have it on authority that one of the books that the child is sitting on is the soon to be released "Harry Potter Challenges the Pentagon" in which Harry Potter takes on Lord Voldemort, and I explained that Lord Voldemort has an insatiable appetite for violence. I pointed out that the increase in the Pentagon budget takes money away from education. As President I intend to cut the waste from the Pentagon budget and put that money right into education. Harry Potter knows that education or Hogwarts is the place where magic is made and we are going to create new magic in the country by rebuilding our education system. I closed by saying, 'Will Harry Potter overcome the power of Lord Voldemort? When I am elected President I intend to restore the educational funding, and I know where the money is.' After the event a young boy and a young girl both came up to me with their brand new copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and asked me to sign them. And they knew exactly what I was talking about."

Dennis J. Kucinich
Newton, Iowa

More Author's note, written a couple of months later: Sorry about taking so long…I really thought about just simply stopping it for longer just because I simply don't have the time.  I'm the state coordinator for this presidential campaign, and a senior in college, and life caught up with me.  The deluge of IM's and E-Mails, although annoying at times, is the only reason why I felt like finishing this chapter.

Also, someone asked about hosting the story elsewhere.  I would be honored, as long as you give me credit and send me an email of where it's located at.