Harry Potter & the Journey Into Isolation
By The Short Fat Fag
Chapter Twenty – the Game of Truth
Walking into her classroom, the stern transfiguration teacher notices that one of her students is missing from today's class. Glancing over to Ron Weasley, who was sitting beside Neville Longbottom, Professor McGonagall raises an eyebrow at him asking the silent question, 'Where is Miss Granger?'
Noticing her, Ron scratches his forehead, right where Harry's scar would have been if it were on him.
She gave a slight nod, letting him know that she understood. She cleared her throat and began her lecture of the day, "Now, today class, we are going to discuss human transfiguration, which is to say, some of the most difficult spell work that many of you will ever have done in your lives. That is to say that it cannot be done with one's mind on one's dinner, so do pay attention."
Everyone in the class took out quill and parchment in order to take notes.
"Now, if everyone has read the previously assigned chapters then you have the basics of the wand movement for transfiguring your hand into an animal's paw. Would anyone care to try to demonstrate for the rest of the class?"
Several people raised their hands, most notably were the Ravenclaw students in the room.
"Ms Parkinson, why don't you demonstrate for us?" Professor McGonagall asked the Slytherin who hadn't raised her hand at all.
"Me, Professor?" asked Pansy.
"Yes, you, Ms. Parkinson," the stern transfiguration replied. "Please come to the front and perform the spell for the class."
Reluctantly Pansy got out of her seat and came to the front of the classroom and attempted the wand movements to properly and painlessly transfigure her left hand into a cat's paw. However, she was unable to perform the spell correctly.
"Ow," she whimpered in pain.
"That would not be the correct manner to perform that charm Ms. Parkinson. Five points will be deducted from Slytherin. Do see if you can reverse the spell now."
Whimpering, Pansy cast, "Finite incantantum." Once again she failed to perform her assigned task correctly.
McGonagall sighed as Pansy whimpered in further pain. Walking up to the girl, she cast the proper counter charm and Pansy's hand reverted back to normal. "Perhaps you are not concentrating enough on this task Ms. Parkinson. I think a five foot essay on this assignment would do you some good."
"Yes, professor," Pansy replied as she started to return to her seat.
"To be handed in tomorrow afternoon," McGonagall added as she returned to teaching the day's topic.
Ron looked over at Neville and said, "Hermione is going to be so mad that she missed that."
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As the transfiguration class ended everyone was making their way out of the class room, Draco Malfoy was stopped by the Head of Gryffindor.
"Mr. Malfoy, please stay behind."
"Yes, sir," drawled the Head Boy as he sauntered up to her desk.
Ignoring the insult, she continued, "The Headmaster wishes to see you in his office."
"Why?"
"He failed to take me into his confidence in this matter, Mr. Malfoy; however, I assume it has something to do with your performance in the hospital wing this morning."
Malfoy remained impassive.
"I take it as the Head Boy, you know where the Headmaster's office is," she asked rhetorically.
Malfoy nodded.
"Well, then off with you Mr. Malfoy. The password for today is 'Chocolate Frogs'."
Malfoy nodded and left the classroom.
Sitting in her chair, the deputy headmistress ponders, 'I wonder what Albus has in mind with him?'
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"Harry," Hermione said, "You've got to snap out of this."
Harry wouldn't look her in the eye. He was too filled with shame that everyone now knew his secret. He had tried so very hard to keep it from everyone and now it was known to the entire wizarding world.
"Harry Potter," Dobby said frantically, "You's is needing to be listening to your Mione."
Sitting down on his bed, Hermione decides it's time everything came out in the open.
"I already knew about what happened to you Harry."
Harry looked up with hurt in his eyes, "What?"
"I figured it out on the first day of term and I confronted Professor McGonagall about it and though she refused to neither confirm nor deny it, she did say that you had been a terrible ordeal. Knowing you as I do that usually means you've been through hell and back again."
"You figured everything out?"
"Well, not at first, but from your behavior, it start to fit all together and then that day in Potions when you…" Hermione explained.
"When you's is kicking that snarky teacher's in his greasy belly," Dobby supplied as he scurried around the room.
Harry smiled a little in spite of himself.
"To quote Ron, 'Yeah that'," Hermione said and they both smiled at that.
Harry sobered almost immediately and asked, "Did you tell Ron?"
"No, I promise I didn't, but he guessed and asked me about it. He told me that he wished it was him and not you," she admitted. "However, he knew that deep down, he wouldn't have survived. Deep down I know I wouldn't have either, but you can Harry. You're the strongest person I've ever known.
"No, I'm not," Harry said sadly.
"Yes, you are."
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Scurrying along the empty corridors of the castle a small rat with small beady black eyes and a bright silver paw makes his way up from the dungeons to the infirmary. Frantically the little rat was constantly looking around to see if he had been spotted and to make sure that damned bowlegged orange furred beast that belonged to the Granger girl wasn't lurking about.
However, Wormtail was lucky and he encountered no one presently and somehow he made his way into the infirmary where he found the school nurse in her office preparing potions for someone to take and the ward was empty. Further down he heard the sounds of two teenagers talking and he knew who it had to be. He had heard their voices too many times in the past to not know them, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Sneaking under the beds as he went he crept to the open door and scurried in as the two were talking about the morning edition of the paper. Crossing the room as the house elf stood still and belittling the resident potions master, Worktail hid himself under Harry's bed and settled himself in for a long wait of listening in on the boy.
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Standing in front of the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office, Draco Malfoy takes a deep breath and begin to strengthen his mind against Legilimancy. His father had taught him the art of Occlumency last summer because he didn't want Draco to fall into a trap set by the Headmaster to reveal more than he wanted him to. Draco knew that whatever it was that the Headmaster wanted, it was not going to be a pleasant meeting.
Finally sighing, Draco looks at the gargoyle and says, "Chocolate frogs," which causes the stone beast to leap aside and reveal a spiral staircase that is moving upward. Stepping onto the bottom step, Draco Malfoy is lifted up towards the Headmaster's office. Reaching the top, Draco knocks gently on the door and it opens on its own.
"Ah, Mister Malfoy, I see that you have arrived," the Headmaster said with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Yes sir, you sent for me."
"That I did," replied Dumbledore and with a graceful motion points to a chair and says, "Won't you have a seat?"
This was not what Draco had been expecting. The Headmaster had set up a wizard's chess set on a table with a chair on either side. Taking a seat on the side with the black pieces and the Headmaster takes the opposite side.
"Was there something you wanted to talk about in regards to my Head Boy duties?" asked Draco skillfully, trying to determine what it was that the Headmaster wanted from him today.
"Not at all."
"I see."
Then the Headmaster smiled again and with his wand he tapped on of the pons and it moved forward on the board.
"Did you call me here to play wizard's chess?"
"Not exactly, but since we are both here and it's already set up for us, we might as well "
"I see," Malfoy replied and taking his own wand out, he taps on one of the black pons and it moves forward, taking its place on the board.
Albus Dumbledore sat there twinkling with all his energy. "You know Mister Malfoy once you begin a game; you are sometimes forced to finish it even if you don't want to."
"Sometimes you aren't forced; sometimes a person may just want to for other reasons than being forced into it. Sometimes its better that way, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes I would, yes I would."
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"Ms. Parkinson," the Head of Hufflepuff House called out to her in Advanced Herbology.
"Yes, Professor Sprout."
"I have a special project for you to work on in class today."
"What would that be?"
Taking the girl by the arm, the Herbology teacher leads the Slytherin over to a row of plants with swelled pods on them. "I need you to collect Bubbertoober puss for Madame Pomfrey."
"But Professor," whined the girl.
"No back talking Parkinson!" snapped the plump woman. "That'll be ten points from Slytherin and now get to work."
"Yes Professor Sprout."
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A few moves into their game and quite of bit of conversation that dealt with nothing, something happened that Draco Malfoy had never experienced before during a game of wizard's chess. The board picked itself up and moved one hundred and eighty degrees, forcing the two play each other's pieces now.
"Well, that was interesting."
"I often find it easier to look at things from a different point of view sometimes, in order to understand an adversary better," explained the Headmaster. "It also helps one to learn to think when circumstances change drastically."
"I agree," lied the Head Boy as he was about to make a move and now the Headmaster was making two in a row leaving him without one.
"Now, about young Harry."
"What about Potter?"
Smiling, Dumbledore says, "Well, I would like to know your intentions towards him."
Draco actually snorted. "I think that has been painfully obvious past seven years."
"True, you have behaved in a very predictable pattern, but as I just explained, circumstances can change dramatically causing us all to have a different point of view on matters that we didn't have before."
Draco smiled, not his usual smirk, not a pureblood trained leer, but a true smile.
"Of course, if you're up to it, I think we could play two different games at the same time," challenged the Headmaster with a wink.
"What the second game be?" asked Malfoy as he was finally able to move a piece on the board.
"It's quite simple actually; it is called 'the Truth.' For the remainder of your time in my office, neither one of us may speak a falsehood or a lie, only the absolute truth."
"Intriguing."
"Are you up for it?"
"Only if I can go first," drawled Malfoy like a true Slytherin.
"Of course," replied Dumbledore which caused both of them to glow for a moment.
"What was that?"
"Well we both just entered into a binding magical contract and until you leave my office, we will both be required to stay within the confines of the rules."
Malfoy scowled, "That was very tricky of you."
"Yes, I know. Now for my question…"
"Wait a moment, I am suppose to go first," Malfoy corrected him.
"You already did when you asked what had happened to both of us," Dumbledore replied with a smile.
Malfoy looked very disgruntled as he had his queen attack and pulverize one of the opponent's bishops
"What are you're intentions towards Harry Potter?"
"That's a bit vague, can you clarify?"
"Answer the question Mr. Malfoy."
Sighing, he replied, "Well that would depend on him now wouldn't it."
"What do you mean," the Headmaster asked.
"No, no, no," drawled Malfoy, "It's my turn now. We must uphold the terms of the magical contract."
"Very well, what do you want to know?"
"What are YOU'RE intentions towards Harry Potter?" the Slytherin asked the Headmaster.
"I intend for him to be happy and have a full and meaningful life. Now for you to answer my earlier question, what do you mean it would depend on Harry?"
Pausing for a moment, trying to construct the reply without giving too much away, Draco thinks of his reply. "Well, I intend to be a part of his life. Metaphorically speaking, I intend to always have a place at his table. I can either sit across from him as an adversary or beside him. That would depend on what he wants, but I WILL be seated at the table."
"Not to discourage you, but I do believe that the chair of the enemy is being filled by another."
"That's my chair," Draco said darkly. "If you are referring to the Dark Lord, we both know that Potter is more than capable of being rid of him, thus leaving the chair open to his equal. Now my turn, what plan do you have in place to teach him to destroy self same dark lord?"
Dumbledore attempted to respond twice before he realized that in doing so would be speaking a falsehood and he finally admitted, "The plans are open at the moment. How do you feel about that?"
Standing up, Malfoy paces a few steps and then admits, "It upsets my preconceived notion of your manipulative behavior to insure that he is more than ready for that day. How utterly disappointing of you."
Malfoy sat back down and waited for the Headmaster to ask another question when he realized that it was his turn again. "Will Potter get better?"
"He will now that you told him to. Are you worried about him?"
"Yes I am. Are you going to interfere with what I have to do to get him better?"
"That depends on what you are going to do. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet, but whatever I have to. Are you going to ask me to reveal my secret about what I know about my father?"
"I wasn't planning on it," replied Dumbledore. "Would you like me to?"
"Only if you want to know. Did you know that I would tell you?"
"No, I wasn't sure if you would cooperate on that question. Where is your father, since you've brought it up?"
Draco smiled again, "Under the fidelius charm in a secret room in Malfoy Manor. Would you like to know who the secret keeper is?"
"Well actually, yes I would. Who is the secret keeper for your father's hiding place?"
"I am."
Dumbledore sat there stunned.
"Would you like to know the price of knowing where he is?"
"I'm not entirely certain, but I have a feeling that you are going to tell me anyway."
Again Draco Malfoy smiled.
"What would be the price I have to pay for finding out Lucius' location?"
"The next time one of Harry's attackers is located; there will be no Aurors, none of your secret organization, no one except me, the attacker and that little elf that belongs to Harry and you have to cover up what we do and keep it secret from everyone, including Harry."
"That's quite a bit to think about."
"Yes it is, isn't it," admitted Draco as his castle and queen placed Dumbledore's king into checkmate. "Would you like some time to think about it?"
"Yes I would Mister Malfoy."
"Good game Headmaster, we should play again sometime."
Then Malfoy got up and walked out of the Headmaster's office, leaving him much to think about.
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With swollen hands Pansy Parkinson makes her way to Care of Magical Creatures class and is late due to Professor Sprout keeping her late to finishing squeezing the last of one of the bush's puss filled swellings. Her hands were swollen and sore and she was very miserable and she still had to write that five foot essay for McGonagall.
"Gather 'round ever'one," called out Hagrid, the half giant. "Today we are going to be working with Hippogriffs. I reckon that you already know how to handle them, but we have a addition to me herd. Buckbeak was located recently and has been brought back here and today we are going to be workin' with him. Are there any volunteers?"
Pansy, who was busy rubbing her sore hands wasn't paying attention and was suddenly pushed forward by Parvati and Lavender after they had snuck up behind her.
"Well, looks like we got us a volunteer," Hagrid said happily. "Now come on up and bow to him."
Ron and Neville gave each other a look and Neville said loudly, "It's too bad Harry couldn't be here, he always said how much he loved working with Buckbeak."
"Yeah," Ron agreed equally loud, "He was always sneaking off to feed him dead rats. Harry said Buckbeak made a great companion."
The Hippogriff heard the two Gryffindors and raised his head proudly and puffed his chest out importantly. Buckbeak remembered Harry Potter and was very fond of him.
Noticing this Neville nodded over to Seamus and Dean, who immediately engaged Hagrid in conversation about something to do Hippogriffs.
Parvati and Lavender took their cues also and Parvati said, "I think Parkinson is so brave t go out there with him." Then she sniffed, "If I had put Harry in the infirmary like she did, I'd be afraid to go anywhere near any creature that Harry thought highly of."
"Yeah," Lavender replied with a fake sniff of her own. "If it was me, I'd be so afraid."
Buckbeak turned his large head to look at the pug-faced girl who was approaching him. Just then a snowy white owl flew in and perched herself on a nearby tree limb and started clicking her beak at the girl also. Buckbeak remembered the bird as a friend of Harry Potters and squawked at her. Hedwig replied with a squawk of her own and again clicked her beak at the Slytherin girl which caused Buckbeak to turn one of his beady eyes towards her.
Pansy gulped nervously and then screamed as Buckbeak reared back on his hind quarters and hit her with one of his sharp talons sending her into the trunk of a nearby tree which she hit with a sickening crunch.
"Wha's happened?" Hagrid asked when he heard her scream.
"She wasn't very respectful of the Hippogriff sir," replied one of the Hufflepuffs.
Hagrid then pointed to Crabbe and Goyle and said, "You two get her up to the hospital wing, so Madam Pomfrey can fix her up."
The two dunderheaded Slytherins obeyed and took Pansy as fast as they could up the castle.
While Hagrid's back was turned, Ron grabbed one of the dead rats and threw it to the Hippogriff, which he caught and ate quickly.
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"Madame Pomfrey," Healer Lennox said politely as he passed her office door on his way to talk to Harry Potter about the article about him in the morning Prophet.
"Healer Lennox," replied the school nurse. "I wouldn't go in there right now, if I were you. He's had a very bad morning and he is just now starting to be civil with anyone. Dobby may not take kindly to you bothering him just now."
"The elf does not tell me how to handle my patient," Lennox growled.
Madame Pomfrey's eyebrows almost disappeared in her hair line. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you."
Ignoring the school nurse, the mental healer strode down the ward and began to knock on the door to Harry's private room. However, he received no answer.
"You's is not bothering Harry Potter is's isn't."
Turning Lennox found Dobby standing behind him and said, "It's time for Harry to talk to me about what happened this morning."
"No it isn't being time."
"There are many things that happened this morning that we need to discuss," Lennox said again, stronger than before.
"What things is those being?"
"Well that article in the paper to begin with."
"Dobby is seeing, but I's is having a question for you's"
"What would that be?"
"Is you's talking about what you's is doing to that poor boy in you's bedroom today also?"
To Be Continued … Please Read and Review
I wanted to thank the following people for reading and reviewing my chapter, I really appreciate it.
angel74, Benjis VIP, Bluetattingman, gaul1, Merlin Halliwell, Monica85, Rane, sami1010220, Separatrix, texasjeanette, WinterBliss and Wren Truesong