18. Snake Attack
Several days later, during their Double Potions lesson, something happened that took Harry's mind off asking Snape once more to recommence their Occlumency lessons momentarily, and gave a kind of proof to Hermione's and his own reckoning.
Slytherin uses what Slytherin teaches.
Harry had been paired with Neville repeatedly. They had used a worktable at the back of the classroom, and things had been going really well for them lately. Snape generally left them alone, ignoring Harry as far as possible.
In the turn of two weeks or so, something had become obvious that confused Harry more than a little bit, even if it was a definite change for the better: he encountered far fewer problems in Potions than he used to. This came on gradually over the period of several lessons, so Harry hadn't notice at first. By now though, the difference was tangible. While their potions never were anywhere near as perfect as Hermione's for instance, they were alright, and worked as they should. And no-one was trying anymore to throw things into them or destroy them in other ways.
No more forgetfulness or wrong sequences in the mixing of substances, and all that...
This confused him. Harry was sure that he had not changed his manner of learning and working. He was also positive that Snape had never gone so far as to personally hex his cauldron, or ingredients, just as he'd never bothered to support him. Harry was convinced that would have noticed either. Yet this felt as if a spell had been lifted. He could not think what it was.
On thinking the circumstances over, Harry realised that Snape probably had just not bothered before to stop Malfoy and other Slytherins from doing such things. The Potions-Defence against the Dark Arts thought was developing.
The events of this lesson made him wonder what the changes in Potions really meant, and if they had happened at all, or if he'd imagined them. He probably was getting a grasp of the subject finally, after five years… No. It was more likely by far that he WAS going potty after all. What he had had to take had been too much for a boy, Dumbledore had said so himself…
Today the students were working by themselves, but most shared a table anyway.
Harry was cutting away at some dragonroot when Snape attacked him mentally!
He jumped when it happened, dropping a small vial with liquefied bedrock which luckily did not break, and accidentally came in contact with his cauldron, which was scalding hot – not merely simmering as it should be.
Everything around him became a jumble of colours, as if seen from a carousel. It took all of Harry's willpower to keep his equilibrium.
Whatever that had been, stopped as suddenly as it had started.
While Harry was blowing on his scorched hand, looking around desperately for something to cool the burn without attracting Snape's attention by dashing to the sink and turning the water on, Malfoy's crowd jeered.
"Burnt your little fingers again, Potty? Hope it hurts nicely!"
This lot was getting dangerously spiteful.
Snape, seated at his desk, seemed completely unperturbed, unaware of goings-on. Could it really have been him, just like that, without any eye contact?
There were rumours of Dumbledore having lectured most members of Slytherin house, and a few members of the other houses in private, after the fight in the Ministry of Magic, concerning the conditions of their remaining at Hogwarts in the future.
Ministerial raids had uprooted far more Death Eaters than those that had participated in the fight in the Department of Mysteries. That had been quite a blow to Voldemort, but many people were sure that not even the tip of the iceberg had been touched.
Every student with relations of that kind had been interviewed. Now that those student's parents were either known to be Death Eaters, or imprisoned, or dead, they would have to show and prove goodwill, or leave. Supposedly, they had been given a code of conduct of sorts, but no-one but them knew any details. It was also said that their communication to the world outside of Hogwarts was monitored. This happened on the grounds of letters from other parents wanting those children expelled, threatening to remove their own otherwise, whom Dumbledore had had to soothe.
Those measures apparently had worked so far, as nothing bad of the Slytherin kind had happened since events on the Hogwarts train. Harry could feel the hate of the Slytherins against him build almost physically. They blamed him for their relative's defeats and misfortune.
Harry composed himself.
Had not Dumbledore said that mental intrusion was not commonly a wizard's gift? But the Headmaster had also said something about distance and, notably, eye contact being an important factor. This, as Harry knew only too well, was not entirely true, at least between himself and Lord Voldemort... And Snape was a past master of any of these Arts! Harry could not now get away from the dungeon, but neither was he prepared for an attack of that kind...
While the Potions Professor was lecturing about some ingredient, pointing at the board where its properties appeared, it happened again. The attack was stronger still this time and came from a different direction, somewhat like a huge gust of wind that tumbled one off one's feet.
That could not possibly have been Snape! He was lecturing, and not even looking in the direction of Harry or any other Gryffindor!
This time, the attack did not cease almost instantly, either. Harry felt like being spun around over and over again and, with difficulty, managed to steady himself on a table corner. The picture of the quiet corridor he had used when approaching Snape appeared in his mind. He clung to it, steadied himself on its floor, and the whirl seemed to cease – or rather to become more distant. He was aware of more jeering noises from the Slytherin tables, and some very concerned looks from Ron and Hermione who were working at a table two rows before his, but they stayed away from him.
Everyone seemed to concentrate on Neville who was on the floor, wailing and twisting, while at the same time they tried to act inconspicuously to not arouse Snape's attention, for fear of getting detentions or losing points. Harry could see Hermione's lips moving frantically, casting spells in quick succession – to no effect at all, it seemed. Sparks were flashing from her wand every other instant, indicating that another spell had been attempted – and failed. Once more, Harry admired her speed and precision.
Later on, recapitulating the event, Harry realised that the scene would have looked hilarious to any outsider.
For the time being, he had other things to consider. What was this about? Had Neville been hit by accident, while the curses should have hit Harry himself? Or were Malfoy and his buddies going for the weakest aim, as usual? Harry lost his footing again, but pushed the whirl of colours, thoughts, and impressions away from his mind, and turned to face Snape. The Professor was ignoring the upheaval on the Gryffindor side of the room entirely, but seemed to watch the Slytherins intently.
Then suddenly, Harry saw what this was about. It all became clear in a flash of recognition. In that instant, Harry fully understood what Snape was doing. This wasn't merely not preventing things from happening, or giving occasional advice on how to terrorize their peers more effectively to members of his house, but the effect of his Dark Arts lessons to the Slytherins! Harry was positive that Malfoy and his Slytherin buddies were receiving certain special lessons from Severus Snape.
This was also totally in accordance with the ideas and fears he, Ron, and Hermione had in part shared with Dumbledore's Army, and with his reflections in Snape's office about a week ago. Harry saw clearly that couldn't blame Snape for any of it: the Potions Professor was merely setting an example in his merciless and inconsiderate manner. The injustice and cowardice of this Slytherin approach was nowhere near what would happen if it ever got through and succeeded!
Swaying under the impact of the flow of magical energy, he looked at the Slytherins, who were now visibly concentrating on Neville. Those that did participate in the … joke, were acting almost as one, efficient and highly organised.
This was bad.
Why on earth did Snape let them? Somehow, grasping the reasoning behind them was never enough to justify the events…
The only thing Harry could not possibly have divined was the extent and the organisation of the effort! When he had noticed those things first – he was not proud to think that it had taken him years, after all – he considered them to be along the lines of chance and occasion. A hint here, a spell there, and the quiet acceptance of magical attacks during lessons… But those efforts obviously were not makeshift or coincidental: this showed an efficiency only full-blown Dark Arts tutoring could provide.
Were he and his friends right in thinking that they were meant to notice, and to defend themselves on their own? He needed to know for sure. He would force Snape to tell him outright what he was up to. Now there was an aim!
Harry had planned on talking to Snape about Occlumency later that day anyway, but felt that to be out of the question right after the lesson. His anger surely would carry him there – and very likely destroy everything for him. He would have to wait!
What he and Ron found out from Hermione after today's events did make him go to see his Potions Professor right away though.
Snape was finished with whatever it was that he had lectured on, and returned to his desk as if nothing whatsoever was wrong in his class. For a moment, his attitude made Harry doubt his own impressions, but the fact that things around him started to whirl again instantaneously brought him back to himself. Harry stared after his teacher.
That pale man was cunning and hard! He had found a way to serve a whole set of purposes. By teaching the Slytherins Legilmency and short-distance Mental Intrusion, he could work for his house. He could proclaim his loyalty clearly to his master, a faithful follower of the Dark Lord doing more than his duty by providing his disciples-to-be with Dark knowledge… Such action should also scratch Snape's own itch, and have the Death Eaters-to-be build up trust in him. Furthermore, in this way, while appearing to proclaim which side he was on, he provided a vent for those children who had to cope with the actions or loss of their parents on way or the other...!
There might be more to this, still. He heard the Headmaster's voice again, saying: "He's never got only one aim at a time."
Harry had to admit that he was impressed, if he liked it or not.
But things had to be stopped here and now, before Harry lost his footing once more. He was bewildered where he really needed to think fast!
The noises in the classroom filtered back into his consciousness, and he realised that he had to act. Looking about, Harry found that he was not affected very much at all any more. The attack centered entirely on Neville.
His understanding must have come to him in a flash – it seemed that hardly a second had passed.
He had to react and fight back NOW. Snape would expect some action on the Gryffindor side, at the very least! It also would give him the chance to hand out detentions…
Maybe, there would be a way to handle this inconspicuously…
Harry turned his attention from Snape to Draco Malfoy, and there found spiteful eyes fixed on him.
Seeing Malfoy rejoice at the sight of Neville on the floor let Harry's wrath rise like a tidal wave. Harry felt that anger to be cold and well within his control: a tremendous force. He did not bother to touch his wand, but made a small cutting gesture with his hand and a big one with his mind – and the spook was gone.
Some of the Slytherins stumbled, yelping with surprise. Neville stopped twitching, sat up, and looked around, shaking and confused. Apparently, he had not much of a notion of what just happened to him. Luckily, Neville seemed not to be hurt either. That was probably due alone to Snape's orders to the attackers.
Draco Malfoy still stood and stared at Harry. His eyes were now glowing, vibrant with a hate of a kind that shook the Gryffindor. But Draco would not or could not resume the attack. Neither did the other Slytherins.
Professor Snape ignored the upheaval in the classroom entirely, having returned to his paperwork.
Neville got up, slightly confused and ruffled but otherwise unscathed, returned to the table and continued with his potion after an apologetic look at Harry, who smiled back. The plump boy clearly had no memory of what just had happened.
Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked befuddled, handling some ingredients, the purpose and use of which he seemed to have forgotten. Hermione was watchful, shooting him an approving glance with a nod.
Harry grinned inwardly. Ron would probably think differently about Hermione's and his own mental states after this lesson…
Looking at Hermione more closely, he found that she was watching the Slytherins intently while continuing her preparations, without ever losing her track, or letting go of her concentration. While he was looking on, she visibly relaxed, and turned her attention to the potion they were preparing. He could almost hear her sigh: 'They've had it for today, I think.' She felt him watching her, looked up, smiled at him, and nudged Ron. The redhead looked up too, still slightly confused. When he met Harry's eyes, his eyebrows rose. He beamed at his friend and, giving him a thumb up, mouthed silently: "Great!"
Harry was still watching Hermione, expecting something from her. But what?
Then the realisation hit. Although it was in many ways far less important than the insights about Snape Harry'd just had, it struck him more since it was personal.
After all, they'd been discussing the probability of Snape's actions before. But Hermione had never mentioned this!
Hermione Granger, his friend of many years, had obviously protected herself most effectively from any interference of the kind they had just experienced, without him or (very likely) Ron ever noticing, and since quite a long time ago, too. The practiced ease with which she'd acted showed as much. Neville Longbottom, on the other hand, wasn't even remotely aware of any threats like possible Slytherin hexes during lessons at all, regardless of them happening to him all the time, and not even now that they all had concentrated on him! Whoever had said that ignorance was blissful!
Well, Harry would let him know as soon as possible, trying to raise his awareness of such things, and help him build a shield against these nasty attempts...
But why on earth had Hermione never told them? Harry felt angry, and more than a little bit betrayed.
To be just, he had to admit that, obviously, one needed to become aware of this kind of action or intrusion on the side of fellow students or teachers in order to notice at all – and he himself hadn't been aware of it until right now. Now that he saw, he found it hard to believe that could ever have not noticed.
Apparently, Lord Voldemort's efforts had always been clouding things over for Harry...
And his belated realisation was entirely owed to his inattentiveness and failure to observe closely, once more: just what the greasy git always said, right?
Better late than never, though…
When had that started? Did Dumbledore really know and approve of it?
Snape was of course utterly reliable to work with even here, if trust could not be the word where his character was concerned, and acting entirely on Dumbledore's behalf.
Yet, in the meantime, Snape was educating and improving the powers of opponents that Harry and Hermione and Ron and all the others would have to face eventually – and likely within a setting much different from Hogwarts... Professor Snape was training foes that would know neither mercy nor fair play...
In any case, a meeting of Dumbledore's Army was more urgent than ever!
But discoveries were not over for Harry yet. In the general confusion and attempts at recollection among the students, Harry realised some aspects of things which connected neatly with the debates he and his friends had had lately about Snape's potions lessons.
For one, things fell into place: Professor Snape, whom he, Harry felt more strongly than ever before, and odd enough in a moment like this, could trust as fully as he did Dumbledore, had permitted today's events to take place in order to show them what they would be facing eventually. A dire warning to pick up Defence lessons again immediately!
Furthermore, like Harry had figured out, Snape did have no reason whatsoever to desire the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, regardless of proclamations and rumours – on the grounds that he was teaching the Dark Arts anyway, as well as the defence against them, and most effectively and on a large scale too – simultaneous with Potions.
Also, he had apparently been doing so for years – very likely with the Headmaster's approval, and without most of the Gryffindors noticing. The rumours about him wanting that position, whether being spread to that purpose or not, merely appeared to provide distraction and cover for him from this point of view.
In this way, the Potions master could teach and favour the Slytherins all he wanted, and curry favour with their parents, and put himself in a brilliant light with his Dark master. If Harry, and all the fighters against Voldemort, ever wanted to learn what he had to teach, what he did indeed teach their prospective enemies, or the countermeasures, they'd have to beg Snape for it and then take whatever he offered.
Or they would have to struggle on much like they'd done so far, but both without any chance for them to get back at the Professor for whichever humiliations he might think up for them, because they had to protect him from discovery with all their might, at almost any price. They would have to point to anyplace but him as the source of their knowledge! Dumbledore's Army was an excellent starting place for that, being unofficial, Harry realised. But he also saw that Snape even now knew most of the Army Members quite well. Should he ever intend to revert to his loyalty to Lord Voldemort, he'd be able to offer precious detailed knowledge on each of them...
What a mind the man had! Cunning beyond cunning, and forcing everyone under his will...! Harry began to understand Dumbledore: he could never trust the git, yet he had no choice but to work with Snape, and only superficially under his own conditions.
There was no absolute safety as to Snape's loyalties! Harry, though, was by now inclined to trust him fully or, rather, willing to work with him under his orders and without reserve. This was partly because of a new-found appreciation for the scope of Snape's game, which he felt to be breathtaking. Harry was sure he could learn a lot from him there. Why should Snape bother unless he really wanted to teach the right thing? It was all out in the open for whoever cared to see! Had Snape been set to kill Harry, or Dumbledore, he could have done so years ago…
A tiny bit of insecurity remained, regardless of how he looked at his Potions Professor. This was probably just what Dumbledore had referred to when he said that he may never know for sure…
After the lesson, in the Entrance Hall, Harry got at his friend, but carefully.
"Say, Hermione, why didn't you ever tell us? I never even realised that the Slytherins were actively obstructing us in Potions, beyond the obvious stupid jokes. But only today, I saw you build a shield against them very early on, and effortlessly. You probably started that years ago, right?"
Ron gasped with surprise.
"Is that true!"
Hermione looked at her friends, taken aback by their demeanour.
"Yes, of course! You're sure, Harry that you only noticed today?"
She was exasperated, but not about the feeling of betrayal that she sensed in them.
"Oh dear! You have not ever protected yourself against them? Well, I have – I had to, and not only in Potions –, right from my very first days at Hogwarts, even before we three ever really became friends! You know that some teachers protect their classes against student mischief, but Snape never did. You know, too, what most Slytherins think of – well, Muggle-born witches, and believe me, they've been trying to get at me from everywhere, even in the Great Hall at eating times!
"At first I was ashamed, but then it became so much of an everyday accessory that I just forgot! It's not really difficult magic, either. I didn't tell you – or anyone else, I think. It became routine even before we three got together. You don't tell me about brushing your teeth, do you?"
"Forgot! But you should have told us! We are your friends!" Ron moaned.
"Oh, I think I believed you were well aware of their hate and had found your own defence methods."
Ron went on: "And that we were just rather bad at potions, eh?"
"Don't-blame-me-for-stuff-like-that-stupidity-of-yours-Ron!" Hermione gritted out.
Both of Harry's friends were red in the face, glaring at each other.
Harry knew he had to end their quarrel now, on the spot. This was too important.
"STOP IT, you two! Hermione, you said that Snape never protected his class against fights among students? But other teachers do? I never knew that, either…"
Hermione stared at him in utter disbelief.
"You don't know that! Didn't you ever read the school rules? It's in there," she said faintly.
Ron tried to stop his grumbling. He seemed to know that bit, or at least was not surprised at all. Harry was not sure that what Hermione had just said had really registered with him yet.
"Well, Snape wouldn't, would he? For the sake of Slytherin points – and for the fighting itself, if we are close to the truth at all... You can be sure he sure likes that! And he probably did protect Malfoy and the other Slytherins – against stuff coming from our side..."
"Yes, he did that," nodded Hermione. "In a way. He DOES protect the room – or some corners, rather, see? Most of all the area his beloved Slytherins work in usually. How come you noticed in the end – in sixth year?"
She shook her head a little. Neither of the boys reacted to that. But both Ron and Harry were listening to her words with eager curiosity, so Hermione continued.
"And some other teachers do, indeed. One should think a wizard would have noticed right away! Harry wouldn't, of course, in the beginning at least, but you, Ron – your mom DOES use spells like that, doesn't she? I mean – I KNOW she does..."
"Yes, of course, but... here, in school..." Ron was dumbstruck though he had seemed to take things in passing.
Hermione passed his remark over mercifully, and began ticking off points on her fingers.
"Let me see. The greenhouses are protected for the obvious reasons – you must have noticed that?"
Both Ron and Harry looked at her rather sheepishly.
"Oh, well… Boys!" she spat, almost Snape-like in her contempt.
Ron tried to defend them.
"Well, we did notice, but there, it's somehow so – matter of course, I never thought it was done systematically, or as a part of something more meaningful..."
Hermione ignored his words.
"You do know, and I am sure of that, that the school is warded against apparating inside grounds, that the floos only allow for firecalls, not travel, unless cleared by the Headmaster himself, that even Dementors can't normally enter Hogwarts grounds without Dumbledore's permission, and that's only the obvious bits... Yet you still can believe that there's no pattern to that! Oh dear... Even Hagrid uses one or two protective charms with the more dangerous creatures although he is not supposed to do so. He's pretty good in Stealth, believe me!"
"Too bad – otherwise, Malfoy might have been eaten at one time or the other!"
Ron cheered up a little.
Harry smiled at the prospect, but Hermione ignored both of them and went on.
"So, who else wards their stuff, and how? Binns obviously doesn't, his lecturing being a most effective sleeping charm in itself. Trelawney didn't – is she back, by the way? – I think she can't, really. Firenze doesn't have to – all the magic he does not agree with is merely turned into something else around him. McGonagall obviously does, and very effectively so.
"With that Umbridge woman, even you two noticed, for the clumsiness of it. Remember her attempts to listen in everywhere during lessons?"
"Wait – but listening in could not really be called Protection, could it?" Ron asked.
Hermione was exasperated, but decided not to show it too much.
"Well, yes, and no – I would, in her case, consider it to be a kind of active Protection, technically."
"Oooh, technically...," Ron muttered under his breath.
She ignored that.
"In my opinion, Umbridge did it that way because she was not able to control a room of students for a whole lesson.
"Professor Flitwick does it, too, and selectively, like Snape – but he obstructs the known, or would-be, troublemakers, no matter whom or what they are, and mostly only while they are at it. I don't think he believes in sedating students magically. He is very fast with it, too. Have you never noticed how you plotted mischief –"
"Mischief, oooh," muttered Ron again, interrupting her.
"Mischief, and how the thought of it died out quite soon, and peacefully, during his lessons?"
Ron gaped at her, looking rather stupid. He had indeed noticed something like that, but never given it a further thought... and why that was, suddenly became obvious to him. What other surprises did Hermione have in store?
"How would you know about plotting mischief in lessons, Hermione?" Harry baited his friend.
She glowered at him but did not rise to that. Experiments to verify suspicions, probably...
Her next words bore no surprise at all, though.
"Now, Professor Snape selects his protégés and – well, dis-protégés – for different reasons, which you can imagine for yourself. Some, he grants shelter, and some, he makes a target. This goes for members of Slytherin house as well."
"But I seem to get on better, lately! Maybe he has put up that protection for me, too?"
"I shouldn't think so, Harry…He surely hasn't done that for me – nor Neville, either," said Hermione, shrugging.
"So that means that Neville might not know anything about this…"
"I'm sure he doesn't," Harry said. "I'll see to that – today, if I find the time, and before the next meeting of DA in any case..."
Hermione continued, nodding slightly.
"Snape has probably just dis-targeted you, sort of, Harry. The other teachers only use wards to get rid of nasty surprises and be able to conduct their lessons in peace. But Snape enjoys playing little games, you know how he is – protection, in his lessons, is rather difficult sometimes, and increasingly so lately. Why it should seem easier to you, Harry, I have no idea.
"The measures necessary to deflect change in his classes... Maybe what he does is a kind of substitute for not being permitted to teach Dark Arts, much in the manner you suggested several days ago, Harry… That is why that idea of yours stunned me so...
"In fact, what he does is very telling and instructive, like a bonus thrown in for those who notice."
"Intimidation as a bonus? Thank you very much!"
Ron was appalled.
Impatiently, Hermione continued. "But don't you see, Ron? Snape has to do what he does! Snape provides the Slytherins with a vent! Just try to imagine what they might be up to if they felt that no-one was monitoring them, and were left alone with their hate for us! They would have wreaked havoc already by now! We owe it to Professor Snape that life at school is relatively safe!"
Ron gaped at her in disbelief.
Hermione was clearly still thinking along the same lines Harry was.
But while she could detect patterns in the protective measures of the teachers, and obviously had done so years ago, which Harry had not been able to do, she did not suspect a greater game behind this, crediting the less agreeable incidents to Snape's unpleasant personality and envy, and his delight in the Dark Arts. She assumed that he'd do such things merely for his personal amusement and satisfaction, to get at least some of what he really wanted, while Harry now knew those things to be much more than that.
Considering the attacks and insults Hermione had to endure because she was of Muggle extraction, there was no surprise in this point of view.
What they had just experienced would change that point-of-view radically.
Harry was quite sure by now that there was more to it. He said: "However, if he doesn't end whatever it is at least for Neville, we will have to think something up."
Hermione agreed heartily.
Ron was lost in thought, probably trying to remember incidents that pointed to being impeded in his actions by teacher's wards.
"See, Hermione, I think what just happened was intended to be a warning, and Dumbledore's Army needs to be on the alert all the time now."
Hermione nodded slowly. "That could be true, Harry."
"I wanted to speak to Snape anyway today. I'll go see him about Neville, and will try to let him know somehow that we got his message!"
To himself, Harry thought that today's events were also intended to get him to make his move... Snape was pressing his point about the urgency of his learning Occlumency. Probably, time really was running short – how could he know? Harry suddenly felt horrified at the idea that the Dark Lord might stage a major attack at Hogwarts, or using his fellow students, and that he, merely because of his pride and silly defiance, would not be prepared...
"No, Harry, that is not your..."
"Hermione, as I said I've got to go see him anyway, to somehow make him teach me... er, Remedial Potions, you remember," Harry looked about him, but no-one was within earshot except for his friends, "- again, and this is a great reason to go and speak to him. I think he still didn't accept my apology, so I've got to try again…"
"You what! Not again, Harry, please, you've – you are too good for that – oh, forget it!" Ron exclaimed, suddenly accepting that his indignation was useless. Harry was not to be stopped anyway once he was decided.
"I can't help it, Ron. I – we just have to take his lessons, no matter what they are! You just saw what happened, and that's nothing like the real thing!"
Ron nodded. What he remembered of the fight in the Department of Mysteries was bad enough. "But how can you stand even the idea? I just shudder to think – to apologise to that git, and beg him to teach you you-don't-know-what!"
"I don't expect him to listen at all anyway, you know. It's not all that bad anyway once you've made up your mind. I have no choice, Ron. It's not only that Dumbledore's leaning on me, and no-one else seems to find the time to teach me, regardless of everyone telling me that I'm the hope of the wizarding world and stuff. I also feel that we are running out of time. Want to swap?
He grinned at his best friend who made a face.
I'll go see him later in the afternoon.
Ron made as if to retch, but silently, Harry shrugged, and grinning in agreement, they followed Hermione to lunch.
Ron was amazed how Harry had changed. There was no confusion in him anymore, nor the anger that had made him a very volatile companion most of last year, but a sort of determination that reminded him of the Headmaster if of any he knew at all. Also, he was beginning to take in what Harry's scar meant, the popularity he had always envied, if secretly and with a feeling of shame. The Prophecy had shocked Ron when Harry finally had told him what it was about. The responsibility to kill for the good of all, and never a choice? No, thank you.
Ron was determined to stand by Harry's side though, hoping he'd be strong enough to never desert his friend.