ON TWO LORDS AND A PRINCE
CHAPTER 21: CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENT REVENGES
The day after his first chanelling lesson was as eventful as the previous day. Harry, having got back very late the previous night missed breakfast and almost missed the start of charms too. That he was waylaid by Zabini, who informed him that their revenge prank against Malfoy would be conducted that lunchtime didn't help. After this news the morning couldn't pass quick enough causing Harry's concentration to slip several times in Herbology, not that Professor Sprout noticed.
The moment the lesson ended Harry made his way straight to the entrance hall where he had agreed to meet Zabini. It had been agreed that they would enter the hall together and sit with some of Zabini's friends at the Ravenclaw table. It had been Zabini that had insisted in them taking lunch together because the prank had been a joint effort. Harry hadn't argued though; he would get a better view of proceedings from the Ravenclaw table than from his normal seat at the Gryffindor table, besides getting some more friends from other houses would be useful, particularly given Harry's rather strained relations with several of his housemates. That the initial discussion revolved the split among the Gryffindors and the issue that had caused it was inevitable.
"What's going on between you and Granger? She was glaring at you throughout the feast." Theodore Nott asked once Harry and Blaise had settled down at the Ravenclaw table.
"Didn't Zabini tell you?" Harry responded. He waited for the both Nott and the Italian boy to indicate that he hadn't before continuing. "She accused me of being a death eater, when we met over the summer. She seemed to think that because I disobeyed Dumbledore then I must be a traitor." The bitterness that laced his voice when discussing the issue was not on the Ravenclaws, nor was the stupidity of Hermione's assertion.
"What? I know Gryffindors aren't known for their intelligence, but that's just ridiculous. Doesn't she realise what would have happened if you'd remained with your abusive relatives?" Nott gasped disbelievingly. He seemed genuinely shocked that someone could even consider such a possibility, and he wasn't the only one, many of Nott's housemates seemed to agree.
"No, she seemed to think that all I needed to do was ask Dumbledore and he would resolve the problem." Harry commented angrily, "The possibility of Dumbledore screwing up or not wanting to resolve the problem never seems to have occurred to her."
Nott's response was equally incredulous as his previous one, "How can anyone believe that? I mean how many mistakes has Dumbledore made?" His question was picked up by Stephen Cornfoot, who was sitting next to Nott.
"According to Granger? None. She probably ascribes them all as being the results of the manipulations of others. I know its naïve and stupid, but it's also part of the Gryffindor Black and White view of the world, from which Potter, thankfully seems to have escaped. After all can you imagine someone of Granger's beliefs gaining the necessary skill and power to defeat the dark lord?" Cornfoot explained to general consensus. Nott still looked a little shocked presumably because he still could not believe the possibility of someone holding Granger's point of view.
There was, however, one objector, to Cornfoot's last point, "Dumbledore was a Gryffindor and everyone knows that he defeated Grindelwald." A girl who was sitting a few seats down from Harry objected. It was Cho, who in Harry's mind looked as beautiful as ever.
"Dumbledore's another Gryffindor who doesn't view the world in black and white," Cornfoot responded calmly, "Take the Slytherins for instance, he understands that they're not all evil, even some of the muggle-haters and he also agrees that deceit is sometimes necessary."
This comment was met with a scoff from Zabini. "Dumbledore does not understand us. Just because Dumbledore thinks that some of us are 'good' it does not mean he understands us or treat us as equals, even Professor Snape knows this. He may acknowledge that not everyone is equally as good or as equally evil, but his moral views are typical Gryffindor, even if does use lies and deceit to achieve his goals." The Slytherin objected hotly. He was met by general scepticism, although some of those listening did agree with him, most notably Harry, who said nothing, and Theodore Nott, who did.
"If anyone of us knows how Dumbledore treats the Slytherins then it's him. Besides everyone knows how Dumbledore trusts someone completely or not at all, of course, people take advantage of him because of it, like Harry's relatives did or like the false Moody did and that's why he makes so many errors of judgement." Nott argued, from the expressions on people's faces it seemed his argument hadn't persuaded anyone other than those who had previously agreed with Zabini.
"Its not so much trust, but whether you agree with him…" Harry began, before he was cut off by a desperate cry that came from one of the Slytherin tables. It seemed as though the revenge against Draco had finally begun.
"Hermione, my love!" Draco cried desperately, as he got up from the Slytherin table. There was no hint of the disgust that usually accompanied anything the Malfoy heir had to do with the bushy-haired muggle-born, nor was there any hint of love or any other positive feelings that would normally accompany such words.
As one the students of Hogwarts turned to see Draco Malfoy run across the great hall and sweep up a Hermione Granger in his arms, before kissing her full on the lips. All bar the two boys at the Ravenclaw table who had orchestrated the stunt were completely shocked, none more so than the bushy haired Gryffindor who had just entered the great hall after a quick visit to the library only to find herself on the receiving end of some tender affections from the Slytherin that had tormented from the moment she had arrived at Hogwarts. Naturally, once she had recovered from her shock and understood what was happening she was less than impressed.
Slap! A look of thunderous anger on her face Hermione pushed away the unwanted admirer and slapped him violently on the face. "Never do that again, Malfoy," she hissed angrily her voice matching the thunderous look of anger on her face, before turning and walking back through the doors from where she had just entered.
However, she only got a few yards before she was tackled to the ground and attacked in turn by Draco Malfoy, who followed up his punches by sneering, "No one rejects a Malfoy," angrily. The look of loathing on his face matched that of the muggle born witch he was attacking.
It took just seconds for the fighting pair to be pulled apart by Professors McGonagall and Evans. "Draco Malfoy! Never in my time at this school have I seen such disgraceful behaviour. If punishing you were my responsibility you would be in detention for the rest of term!" The Transfiguration professor screeched, rounding on the boy she believed to have started the incident. Her rant was interrupted by the arrival of Professor Dumbledore on the scene, accompanied by Professor Figg whose job it was to punish Draco for the incident.
"Minerva!" Professor Figg interrupted. McGonagall stopped talking and turned Draco, whom she was still holding despite his lack of struggling, to face his head of house. "Let the boy explain himself before dishing out judgements. I for one cannot imagine him doing what he just did willingly." There was a pause and several expectant looks as the gathered faculty waited for Draco to explain himself.
"If you want to know what happened ask Potter and Zabini, they were the ones that caused me to do this. I had no control over my actions." Malfoy said, he sounded vaguely shocked and disgusted at what had happened. There was also a fair dose of anger in his voice, although there was more humiliation and self-disgust. It was an excuse that convinced nobody, except those who knew it to be the truth already.
"Likely Story," Professor McGonagall scoffed while her colleague considered Draco's punishment. She wasn't the only one to vocally express her doubts many of the students made clear that they agreed with the Transfiguration Professor's assessment. It was precisely these comments that made Harry and Blaise come forward to support their friend's story, they after all, did not want to see him punished harshly, especially when he didn't deserve it.
"He's telling the truth. Zabini gave Malfoy a Two-part Attraction Potion at breakfast and I gave Granger the trigger for it during Herbology. We didn't expect it cause Malfoy to hurt Granger, we only wanted to humiliate them," Harry said once he and Zabini had pushed their way through the crowd of students and Professors that gathered around the scene. The expressions of the students changed from doubt to mild surprise, after all, none of them expected Harry to speak up on behalf of his supposed worst enemy, nor did McGonagall or Figg.
"Well then that changes everything." Professor Figg commented, "Mr. Malfoy, I was going to give you two weeks detention and send a letter to your parents, now though you will receive just one detention. You should be thankful that Mr. Potter had the decency to come forward. Mr. Zabini and, with Minerva's permission, Mr. Potter will also receive a detention and fifty points from your respective houses." Harry looked over to Professor McGonagall, who indicated her agreement and then to the now empty house point Slytherin and Gryffindor house point hourglasses in the entrance hall. Neither he nor Zabini had any objections to the punishment, they had broken school rules, nor, however, did they feel any remorse for their actions, as the revenge had been deserved.
Harry met up with Malfoy and Zabini after dinner. The later approached Harry as he sat at the Gryffindor table, saying that once they had finished they were to meet in the entrance hall for a private word. The Italian boy had then led Harry into a secret passageway and down into the dungeons, where Malfoy was waiting for them in a secret room near the Slytherin common room. As it turned it had been Malfoy not Zabini who wanted the private word about that afternoon's prank.
"We're even. I won't be seeking revenge for this afternoon, we should just carry on as normal now." Draco announced once his two friends had arrived. There were no traces of his earlier anger or humiliation.
Neither Harry nor Blaise had questioned Draco on the topic, assuming that their admission of guilt in order to reduce the Malfoy heir's punishment had been the cause of this unexpected announcement. After that Zabini had left, leaving Harry and Draco discussing the practicalities of how two supposed enemies meeting up in secret. The discussion was brief and conclusion quickly reached, leaving the two boys to return to their common rooms to do their homework. When Harry arrived, however, he found his housemates arguing about him and his earlier defence of Draco.
"That's not the point! He defended Malfoy. He's never done that before," An unknown voice bellowed as Harry entered the common room. No one seemed to have noticed his arrival so he ducked down behind the nearest chair and moved as far into the corner as he could, that way he wouldn't be seen. He wanted to hear his housemate's reactions to Hermione's opinions of him and who exactly his remaining friends were among the Gryffindors.
"So?" Ron responded, "I don't think it was just about wanting to take credit for his prank, Harry probably didn't want Malfoy to be punished unfairly too." Harry was glad to find that the red head was still defending him despite his aiding of Draco.
"Since when has Harry been fair to Malfoy?" Neville asked in response to Ron's comments. It was a valid point that was immediately seized upon by Hermione to reveal information that Harry did not want revealed.
"Since they became friends," Hermione said haughtily to general amazement. It was clear that no one believed her. "I know Harry said all those things to Malfoy after the feast, but they were chatting away like old friends in Potions yesterday. I also saw the two acting friendly over the summer when I saw Harry and Malfoy together in Rome." From the limited view available from his hiding place, he could tell that some of the Gryffindors believed the bushy-haired girl. This revelation caused Harry to feel slightly nervous – he did not want Ron or any of his other friends to believe her. Such fears were quickly proved groundless.
"Just because they were talking it doesn't mean they were being friendly to each other, the could equally have been insulting each other. The same applies when you met them in Rome," Alicia countered, in a comment that made Harry hope that it is possible to both insult someone and be friendly towards them at the same time.
"That doesn't explain what they were doing together in Rome." One of the second year girls objected. She was met with a call of approval from one of the sixth year boys and to Harry's great delight an explanation that defended Harry from Ron.
"You know that Harry stayed with Professor Evans over the summer?" Ron asked rhetorically, "Well Professor Evans' sister is Malfoy's mother. Which means that Harry and Malfoy are cousins. That's why they were together; Professor Evans took them both clothes shopping. Harry also said that they ran into Zabini when they got there, that's why he's suddenly became friends with Zabini."
"Harry also said that Evans forced them to agree a truce over the summer, because he got fed up with their fighting. They probably had no choice but to act like friends," Pavarti intervened, adding information that Ron had omitted.
"That Harry's friends with Zabini is bad enough. Besides if he's friends with one he's probably friends with the rest, you know how the Slytherins always stick together." The sixth year boy that had agreed with the second year said. Everyone picked up the insinuation that Zabini was a death eater and that by implication so were all his friends. Harry was pretty sure that Hermione agreed with him and that Pavarti, who was good friends with the Ravenclaws, did not.
"My sister is friends with Zabini and I seem to remember that your friend Marsden went out with him for three months," Pavarti protested hotly, she seemed to have taken the sixth year's words personally, presumably because they insulted her twin sister. "Whilst most Slytherins may be evil, he is the exception that proves the rule."
"That may be the case, but I saw what I saw. He can't be trusted," Hermione asserted, "Besides, he's changed and for the worse. He's acting like a Slytherin."
"He may have changed, but he can still be trusted," Ron hissed in reply, "He's not evil, he hates You-know-who more than ever, he said so on the train and he meant it. He's my friend and I'm not going to desert him just because he decided to be fair to Malfoy." Harry smiled at how vehement his friend's words were. Their venom had also caused a pause in the argument, which allowed Harry to stand up and reveal himself.
"Thank You, Ron," he said warmly, moving over to the seat that had been saved for him, "You're a true friend."
Thank You for you patience, but I am afraid that more will be required as I make no promises about the frequency of chapters. At some point in the near future I will recommence regualar updates of this fic, until then I am afraid that updates will be sporadic. As I have repeatedly asserted this story will be finished, but not for some time as there is a long way still to go in this fic.
Secondly in response to HectateDeMorte - Harry's halfblood comment was deliberate, as at the time he still regarded himself as a halfblood, having only just discovered that he wa pureblood the previous evening. It also served the purpose of belittling himself by denying the social status that comes with being pureblood.
Thank You to all those who reviewed Chapter 20. The reviews were much appreciated. If you want me to e-mail you when I update this fic leave your e-mail address in your review.