Chapter 13
Harry fell asleep that night knowing everyone was watching him. He dreamt that everyone who passed his door always looked in. It could've been that he was only half asleep and didn't realize this actually happened.
He woke up late that morning. Ron wasn't there, nor was his bed a mess like always. He hadn't slept in here. Harry stretched and slowly made his way downstairs. Everything was pretty much back to normal. Harry began to think last night was just a dream until he walked in the kitchen and everything went quiet. Almost everyone was in there whispering and quickly shut their mouths as soon as he stepped in. Harry felt like he was intruding.
"Harry," Dumbledore greeted cheerfully, "Wonderful to see you up." Many shifted uncomfortably. Hermione and Ron were standing next to Malfoy and Ginny. Harry was surprised to see Ron speaking so freely to Malfoy. Harry glanced around as he approached his friends. He noticed Snape was watching him intently.
"Morning Harry," Hermione said as she took a bite of toast. Harry halfway smiled at her. Ginny watched him suspiciously.
"Draco, why don't we go get some more eggs?" Ginny said quickly. Malfoy looked at her and nodded. They got up and hurried past the crowd.
"Don't you want to go see where they're going?" Harry asked sipping some orange juice Hermione handed to him.
"No, I trust them," Ron said.
"What?" Harry asked loudly after spitting out his juice all over the table next to him, "Since when? You never let them out of your sight!"
"Harry, it's okay, I'm over it now," Ron answered just as calmly. Harry looked at him quizzically.
"We know why they left," Hermione spoke up. Ron gave her a nasty look but shook his head and said nothing.
"Yeah, I do too. They left to go get eggs," Harry answered slowly.
"Well-" Hermione started.
"No they didn't!" Ron shouted. Harry and Hermione both jumped.
"What are you on about?" Harry asked.
"They left because Ginny thinks you might attack Malfoy," Ron said heatedly.
"Why would she think that?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Because of last night!" Ron shouted. Several people turned around. Ron frowned and shrank down in a seat. The eavesdroppers returned to what they were doing. Harry sat next to him and stared blankly at his food. Hermione glared at Ron.
"Harry, we're not mad about last night. I promise," Hermione said. Harry turned away, "In fact, we're actually proud of you."
"We just can't get over the fact that, you…," Ron whispered, "killed." Harry looked at him.
"So is that what they all think of me?" Harry asked disbelievingly. Ron frowned and looked down. Harry laughed sarcastically.
"Harry," Hermione said quietly, "We know you did it to save Ginny."
"Then why is everyone treating me like a bloody criminal?" he said harshly. Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, "And why is Ginny scared of me? If everyone's proud of me then why haven't I gotten a thank you or anything?"
"Harry, you killed a Death Eater," Hermione said, "It's not like you graduated or had a birthday." Harry got up and stormed out of the room in frustration. He passed Ginny and Malfoy talking quietly in the hall. Ginny saw him coming and pulled Malfoy away. Harry wasn't going to let her slide with this.
"Ginny," he shouted as he followed. Malfoy stopped, resisting Ginny's pulls on his arm.
"What is it Potter?" Malfoy spat.
"Draco don't," Ginny whined.
"What's wrong with you Ginny?" Harry asked, "I'm not gonna kill him if that's what you think. I saved you! And you just ignore me! You'd be dead if I hadn't done what I did! I'm not proud of it but..," he trailed off. Malfoy looked at him. Ginny had tears in her eyes.
"What did you expect me to think? You've beaten him up before! You killed Bellatrix! I thought you were on a rampage!" she screamed through tears. Malfoy put an arm around her shoulders and led her away. Harry could only watch them as they stepped outside. He looked past them and noticed different surroundings. There weren't trees outside but a waterfall and bushes. He looked back and saw Hermione and Ron walking toward him.
"Dumbledore moved the house. He's the secret keeper again. He said the Death Eaters got in here last night after they found we weren't in the cave. They searched the woods and discovered us," Hermione explained quickly.
"Well why wasn't Dumbledore here?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Hermione answered quietly.
"Actually, he hasn't really talked to anyone but Snape, and Malfoy," Ron said.
"That sounds a bit suspicious, doesn't it?" Harry asked seriously.
"Harry, think of what your saying! Dumbledore, suspicious? That's ridiculous!" Hermione disagreed.
"She does have a point mate," Ron said frowning. Harry shook his head.
"So what have you two decided?" Harry asked, changing the subject.
"About what?" Ron asked, his ears turning red.
"About the other night," Harry said ginning. Hermione seemed to automatically be interested in a nearby elf head.
"Why are those on the walls?" she asked angrily, "What ever happened to Kreacher anyway?"
"Who cares?" Ron said.
"Well?" Harry asked again.
"It's….none of your business," Ron said quietly. Harry grinned again.
"Seriously?" He continued.
"Nothing!" Hermione snapped.
"Something," Harry urged.
"Shut up Harry," Ron groaned. Harry rolled his eyes and stepped outside. Ginny and Malfoy were sitting by the waterfall. She seemed upset. Malfoy just stared at the rushing water.
"Hey," Harry said as he sat down beside her. She looked at him as if he'd just come back from the dead. Harry started to feel uncomfortable.
"So, what are doing?" he asked stupidly.
"What does it look like Potter?" Malfoy spat. Ginny's eyes grew wide and she turned to Malfoy and whispered something harshly. He just rolled his eyes.
"What? Did I miss something?" Harry asked.
"No," Ginny said.
"Ginny, I'm not a bloody killer," Harry said trying not to raise his voice.
"Really? Then what happened last night?" she countered.
"Malfoy, can you give us a few minutes?" Harry asked calmly.
"Why? I'm here to protect Ginny. Don't want you going on a killing spree," Malfoy smirked. Harry glared at him.
"Draco, just go," Ginny ordered quietly.
"What?" he asked disbelievingly. Ginny looked at him and he quickly got up and left.
"What do you want, Harry?" she asked angrily.
"Ginny, why are you acting like this? I didn't mean to kill Bellatrix. It just sort of….slipped out," Harry explained.
"What?" she asked, "slipped out? The killing curse just slipped out?" Harry frowned.
"I'm going to have to kill sooner or later," Harry said. Ginny looked at him seriously.
"Sooner or later?" she asked, "Who?"
"Voldemort," he said after hesitating. She cringed at the name, "I only killed Lestrange because she was going to kill you." Ginny looked at the water. Harry could see she was thinking hard.
"I know. I just thought that you would kill any Death Eater near me," she said.
"So Malfoy's a Death Eater?" Harry asked suddenly.
"No! Draco's not a Death Eater. I just thought you thought he was," Ginny said.
"I'm not the only one," Harry answered quietly. Ginny sighed in frustration.
"I just didn't want Draco to get hurt," she said looking at him.
Harry was speechless. He knew then that he couldn't get Ginny back.
"Alright, well, I'd better go," he said getting to his feet. Ginny nodded and turned back to the spraying waterfall. Harry slowly made his way back to house. He heard Buckbeak screech from the waterfall.
"Where did you go?" Ron asked as Harry came to their room.
"I just went to straighten everything out with Ginny," Harry said solemnly.
"How'd it go?" Hermione asked. Harry just shrugged. Hermione frowned at him.
"So has anyone heard anything about Hogwarts?" Ron asked quickly changing the subject.
"No," Harry answered shortly. Ron and Hermione gave each other looks and continued the conversation.
"Is it still open?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure," Ron said. They looked at Harry who wasn't paying attention.
"Does everyone think I'm killer?" Harry asked.
"Um," Ron hesitated.
"Harry, you did kill someone but that doesn't mean no one trusts you," Hermione assured.
"Then why is everyone avoiding me?" Harry asked angrily, "Even you've seemed uneasy around me, Hermione!"
"Well, Harry, it was unexpected," Hermione tried to explain, "I mean, we know you have to kill Voldemort but we just weren't ready for you to actually kill."
"You weren't ready? How about me?" Harry countered, "I'm the one everyone's scared of! You don't know how it feels!" Ron shifted and slid a piece of paper in his jean pocket.
"What's that?" Harry snapped.
"I don't think you want to see it," Ron said quietly.
"Let me see it!" Harry sighed.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked uneasily. Harry nodded. Ron reached back in his pocket and gave the paper to him.
It was today's edition of the Daily Prophet. The front page caught Harry's attention. It read:
The Boy Who Lived Gets Revenge
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, received his revenge last night when he killed known Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange. Lestrange was one of the many witches and wizards who had broken out of Azkaban nearly two years ago. She's responsible for many deaths, witches, wizards, and muggles alike. She also engaged in the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom.
Mr. Potter has been reported as mentally unstable. Several reports have indicated that he attacked Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's son. Mr. Malfoy was not seriously injured. Others have said that Mr. Potter has not slept well. Perhaps he's been in shock over Albus Dumbledore's death. No one knows for sure what causes Mr. Potter's actions but several witnesses to these events agree that he is mentally and emotionally out of his mind at the moment. The Daily Prophet will update this story as soon as new information is available.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Harry yelled as he crumbled up the paper and threw it over his shoulder. He buried his head in his hands.
"Harry, the Daily Prophet just doesn't know you," Hermione said.
"Really?" Harry said sarcastically, "Now everyone's going to think I'm a bloody mental case!"
"Harry, may I speak with you for a moment?" came Dumbledore's voice behind him. Harry got up and went to him. Dumbledore led him to an empty room.
"What happened last night?" Dumbledore asked hurriedly.
"Professor, haven't you heard it from everyone else?" Harry asked sighing.
"Yes, but I would like to hear your part of the story," Dumbledore said.
"Well," Harry began. Dumbledore listened intently to every word as Harry explained what happened.
"So, you killed Bellatrix Lestrange," Dumbledore said.
"Yes," Harry said as he took a deep sigh, "But I didn't mean to! She was going to kill Ginny!"
Dumbledore held up his hand. Harry stopped.
"I hope you understand the seriousness of what you've done," Dumbledore said solemnly. His eyes weren't twinkling as usual. In fact, they looked sort of grayish. Harry recognized them from somewhere.
"Sir, are you feeling alright?" Harry asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Dumbledore said.
"Nothing, and yes I do understand. But, isn't it a good thing she's dead?" Harry asked.
"Oh, yes yes," Dumbledore said quickly, "I just want you to know that the Death Eaters won't tease you anymore as they have done in the past. They will take you seriously now and think of you as a threat. That means they won't hesitate to kill you. Especially the Dark Lord."
"I know- Hang on, what did you say?" Harry asked taken aback.
"What?" Dumbledore said taking interest in a painting on the wall.
"Nothing," Harry said, "So, you said you destroyed another horcrux."
"A what? Oh yes, I destroyed Hufflepuff's cup," he said.
"Really? So what two are left?" Harry asked.
"Nagini and something of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw," Dumbledore said matter-of-factly. His eyes shined. There was definitely something different about Dumbledore. He hadn't seemed this way earlier.
"I'd better go get lunch, Professor," Harry said as he quickly left the room. He hurried down the hall to find Ron and Hermione. They weren't there. He went to his room. There they were, sitting next to each other, engaged in an embrace.
"Alright! Break it up! I've got major news!" Harry said barging in. They instantly let go of each other and Hermione stood up.
"Hi Harry," Hermione said as if he hadn't just interrupted anything, "I-I thought you were, um, talking with Dumbledore."
"I was. And I'm sorry for barging in during your little 'moment'," Harry grinned, "But I think something's wrong with Dumbledore."
"Harry," Ron groaned, "We've been through this. We know you're suspicious but you've really got to stop blowing these things out of proportion."
"Stop treating me like I'm mental!" Harry snapped. Hermione jumped a little but said nothing.
"Harry, I didn't mean anything by it. I just think you're making a big deal about it," Ron said.
"Ron! I'm telling you! I'm not imagining it! I swear!" Harry shouted.
"Bloody hell," Ron sighed.
"Seriously Ron!" Harry yelled.
"Harry, you've been like this before, remember? About Malfoy," Ron said.
"But I was right! And you didn't listen to me! That got Dumbledore killed! Well, it put him in danger!" Harry argued.
"But everything turned out right didn't it?" Hermione spoke up.
"Well maybe this time's different. I'm telling you that's not Dumbledore!" Harry shouted.
"Alright, we'll hear you out. Why do you think he's an imposter?" Hermione asked.
"Well, his eyes just look weird. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like I've seen them somewhere else. They were kind of gray," Harry said.
"That's it? If all you've got is gray eyes then this is a bloody waste of time," Ron moaned as he started toward the door.
"No! There's something else," Harry hesitated, "He called Voldemort the Dark Lord."
"What?" Hermione asked disbelievingly, "Are you sure? But only Death Eat-"
"Yeah I know," Harry interrupted.
"I don't know Harry," Hermione said, "Maybe you just misunderstood him."
"Hermione, how could I mistake 'Voldemort' for 'Dark Lord'?"
"Well, Harry," Hermione said hesitantly, "You haven't really been yourself lately. Perhaps you're just imagining things."
"Hermione! I can't believe you! Is that what you really think?" Harry shouted. Hermione said nothing, "You too?" He asked as he looked at Ron. Ron frowned at him and looked at Hermione. Harry shook his head.
"Fine, go back to what you were doing," and with that, he stormed out of the room.
