Chapter Seventeen!
Checking the time Harry decided Neville would most likely either be in the Great Hall or up in their dormitory. So making up his mind they started walking towards the Great Hall first, since it was closer. Not finding him there they climbed the numerous flights of stairs and looked in the Gryffindor Tower. On the way, though, Luna decided to head back to her own dorm and do some of her homework before going to bed. The blonde stole a quick kiss from both Gryffindors before leaving.
As Harry and Hermione entered the Gryffindor Common Room they found Neville in a corner reading. Although he looked a good deal calmer than at the end of Moody's lesson, he still didn't seem entirely normal. His eyes were rather red and his movements seemed stiff, his hands shaking occasionally when he turned the page as his eyes looked through the text. "You all right there, Neville?"Harry asked him softly.
"Oh yes," Neville answered, looking up in surprise, "I'm fine, thanks. Just reading this book Professor Moody lent me…" He said, holding up the book: Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean.
"Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology," Neville explained. There was a faint note of pride in his voice that Harry had rarely heard. "He thought I'd like this."
Telling Neville what Professor Sprout had said had been a very tactful way of cheering Neville up, for Neville very rarely heard that he was good at anything. It was the sort of thing Professor Lupin would have done. Somewhat suspicious of what Mad-Eye had done, as he didn't seem the type to go out of his way to help anyone he didn't know. He was about to raise his concerns when he decided to leave it for later as he was about to darken Neville's mood again, something he didn't want to do, so his concerns over the professor could wait. But before he broached the subject, Neville asked, "Harry, where were you and Hermione? People were asking about you when you didn't show up for dinner."
"Oh me and Hermione needed to talk about a few things, so we went and found an unused classroom." Harry said, keeping his voice perfectly normal as he quickly came up with the idea; it wasn't lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. "As we talked, I called upon a House-Elf to get us some food." Pausing and taking a deep breath Harry went on to say, "Neville, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Harry." Neville replied, feeling a sliver of unease due to how reluctant Harry looked about whatever he was going to say next.
"I'm sorry to ask, but why did you react so badly when Mad-Eye showed us the Cruciatus Curse?" Harry asked.
Neville flinched, his hope that Harry wouldn't bring up that particular subject dashed. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I can't think of any good reason why you would have such a bad reaction to that curse…" Harry said.
Neville shook his head, "No, no… I think I should share as it sort of involves you, and I've heard telling someone apparently makes you feel better." Harry was silent as Neville visibly collected himself, taking several calming breaths before he spoke. "Shortly after You-Know-Who was killed some of his Death Eaters had a hard time believing he was gone, so they attacked my parents, believing they knew what happened. My parents were Aurors, like your father was and they fought well but ultimately they were fighting while protecting an infant; me. They eventually lost and the Death Eaters took turns casting Crucio on them and demanding to know what had happened in Godric's Hollow that night. My father was hit the worst, from what the Healers at St. Mungo's told me. I can only assume it was because he taunted the Death Eaters whenever they tried to go after my mum. She was still hit pretty hard, since she was protecting me in her arms the whole time, but she got off lighter because of dad. Well, that's Gran's theory anyway." He trailed off as he realized he'd started crying.
Feeling a hand settle on his shoulder he looked up to see Harry looking down at him. "Did talking about it help?"
Neville wiped his eyes, "…Yeah, yeah it did a bit, thanks for listening, Harry." And he did, it felt like a previously unfelt burden had been lifted. The ache was still there and it always would be, but he didn't have to keep everything locked inside anymore, he now had someone to talk though his problems with.
"Is there anything the Healers can do to help them?" Harry asked his roommate.
"Normally when someone gets put under the Cruciatus Curse for a long time they can be healed in a few months, a year at most," Neville explain sadly, "But my parents were under it longer than anyone they treated 're still searching for a cure but at the moment they hadn't found anything. Sometimes I think they should be allowed to die, yes, they are alive, but they are trapped in their own minds, not knowing what's going on around them. But my Gran wants the Healers to do everything they can to find a cure, so they can live. I can see her point, a part of me wants the same, but another part just wants them free from the curse they're under, even if it means death for them."
Harry was shocked at Neville wanting his parent to die, but he could see where Neville was coming from. If, after all these years, the Healers hadn't found a cure or method to help them then what chance did they have in the future? Maybe it would be the kindest thing to allow them to die, setting them free, so they were no longer trapped in their own minds. But still, "I'm sorry to hear about your parents, Neville."Harry said sadly, "I can understand where you're coming from, seeing that we don't know what they are going through in their minds, maybe it would be better if they died peacefully. But if both the Healers and your Gran think that they might be saved, then I hope that the Healers are able to find a cure soon. If there's anything I can do to help just ask, and I'll do what I can."
"Thanks Harry." Neville said gratefully, but before he could say more Professor McGonagall entered the Common Room.
"Mr. Potter, the Headmaster wants to see you." She announced.
"Do you know what it's about, Professor?" Harry asked, having a feeling he knew.
"No, Mr. Potter,I don't, he only told me that he would like to see you now." His Head of House told him.
"Can't it wait 'til morning, Professor?" Harry asked, sending a glance at the clock. "It's almost curfew."
She shook her head, giving a sigh. "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, I raised the same concerns myself on your behalf, but he was most insistent about seeing you now and that it couldn't wait. So come along, I'll be right behind you the whole time." She felt a sense of pride as she said that and actually mean it; no longer would she be abandoning her lions to the Headmaster, especially now that she had her suspicions about him. She also felt a pleasant sensation as her promise earned her a small proud smile from Harry.
Harry nodded, "Alright, Professor, lead the way. I'm rather tired and the faster we get this over with the faster we can all get to sleep." It was a blatant lie, he actually had quite a bit of energy and was hoping to catch the Maine Coon later tonight but he needed everybody to think he was in bed before he could do that.
Hermione couldn't stop the small blush that crept across her cheeks as she realized why he would be tired, but said her goodbyes along with Neville as Harry and McGonagall left the common room on the way to the Headmaster's office.
o0OoO0o
It wasn't long before Harry and McGonagall were in front of the Headmaster's Office and after giving the password to the stone gargoyle, they walked up the staircase. Just before McGonagall knocked on the door, they heard Dumbledore say, "Enter, Harry, Minerva."
Harry resisted the urge to comment about the Headmaster's love for theatrics, only because McGonagall's face had shifted to something more serious before she opened the door and ushered him inside before walking in behind him. Although he had to wonder how Dumbledore knew it was them. It was just as likely that another professor wanting to see him about something.
"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" Harry asked patiently.
"Yes, please have a seat, my boy," Dumbledore said, "We've got a serious matters to talk about."
Harry almost rolled his eyes. Dumbledore was in full 'I Am Disappointed In You For Something, But I Won't Say What' mode. Accordingly, when Harry sat down it was almost a full minute of staring at each other before Dumbledore spoke, in which time Harry looked around the room and saw both Snape and Flitwick on either side of the Headmaster. "Do you know why you are here, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, "I don't mean to be rude, but it's late, can we cut to the chase?"
Snape's face reddened and everyone in the room could see he was physically holding himself back from saying something, only the threat of his immediate sacking kept his mouth closed. "He's right, Albus, I know you love to take these things slow, but you must compromise. You wanted to talk at this late hour when it is almost curfew, so the least you could do is be quick about it so we can all rest." Minerva said from behind Harry. She herself wasn't tired, but she needed everybody asleep so she could explore the castle and hopefully find the black Kneazle for another mating. Thanks to Potter and his talk to her, it had been a long week sorting out Severus and finding new teachers. She wanted nothing more than a good mating to help her unwind from everything that had happened and the games Albus insisted on playing weren't helping.
Albus sighed, he missed the days when he could do things his way, they were fast disappearing, "Very well. What do you know about what happened to Matthew McQuillen and his friends?"
"Word around the castle is they were fooling around near the stairs and got hurt, something that, from the rants Madam Pomfrey frequently makes, is sadly all too common." Harry lied easily. Itdid help that on the way to find Neville he had heard exactly that rumour. He was glad that McQuillen was keeping up the story, although considering he was sitting in front of the headmaster, maybe he hadn't been. Had he just told the story to his friends and other people, seeing that he didn't want people knowing that the Boy-Who-Lived had beaten him up, saving face and then told Dumbledore something else? It would be a reasonable assumption, he thought and it left him some room to manoeuvre.
"Mister Potter, I think you're not telling me the whole truth." Dumbledore said gravely, looking over his glasses in a pose that probably would have made the Harry of yesteryear spill everything; it just looked silly now.
"Hold that thought for a second," Harry said as he saw what this was all about now, "It's pretty obvious you suspect I had something to do with their injuries, although I was with Hermione at the time, so why is Snape here?" Harry asked, knowing that Hermione would back him up if required, "McQuillen is a Ravenclaw if I remember correctly, so Professor Flitwick should be here, but as far as I aware, Snape has nothing to do with this."
Ignoring the man's purpling face, Dumbledore was quick to say,"Professor Snape has my complete trust Harry, my boy, and he deserves your respect. He is a highly trained and acknowledged Potions Master." With his customary eye twinkle.
Harry stared at him blankly for several seconds.
"Something wrong, my boy?" The Headmaster asked.
"I was assuming there was more of an answer there and was waiting for it." Harry replied. "I'm glad that you, personally, have trust in him, but he hasn't mine.I'll acknowledge that he's a great Potions Master, and I respect his knowledge. But as a person, as a man, I have neither respect nor trust for him. He hates me simply because of my parentage, much like the Purebloods with their 'I'm better than you because of my ancestry' attitude. He believes himself superior to me simply because I am a Potter, and he isn't. That logic is flawed, and childish. I have no respect or patience for someone like him." Then taking a deep breath to get back to the point, "Anyway, getting back to the point, this matter is between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, it has nothing to do with Slytherin. So he has no right to be here, Headmaster. You should be acting as a Headmaster, personal relations shouldn't have anything to do with this."
Albus frowned, "Harry, my boy, I am the Headmaster of this school, I'll bring in anyone I want to uncover the truth."
"That sounds dangerously like a dictatorship, sir." Harry replied, "And you have yet explain to me why I'm suspected of being behind what happened to McQuillen."
Dumbledore was about to say something was cut off by a voice from his left, "Enough!" Flitwick's squeaky voice interrupted. "One of my students was injured and you, Albus, believed that it wasn't an accident. Mister Potter is right; Severus has nothing to do with this issue, so make him leave so we can get to the bottom of this." He demanded. "You also haven't told him, or us for that matter, why you suspect young Mr. Potter. He's done nothing to cause this level of suspicion."
The Headmaster sighed again, "Severus, you may leave, we will talk later." The elderly man ignored the potions master's enraged and betrayed look and was silent until he left the room. "Back to the matter at hand, young Mr. McQuillen claims that he and his friends were practising their spell casting in an empty classroom when you burst into the room and started assaulting them." Dumbledore explained.
Harry internally promised himself that he would be having words with McQuillen and his friends before answering, "Is that all, you brought me here because he claimed I assaulted him." Harry said in disbelief, "Have you considered that he's lying? I've been with Hermione all day, I'm sure if you summon her she'll corroborate that fact."
"It is common knowledge that you made it clear that Miss Lovegood was under your protection. I don't believe it is mere coincidence that some of her bullies were found injured so soon after you made this declaration." Albus pressed.
"That's a pretty damning statement, Headmaster,you've just admitted that you knew about Luna's situation and yet have done nothing to stop them from bullying my new friend." Harry commented idly.
Albus' eyes widened minutely as he realized his mistake. In his haste he had revealed his knowledge and had been caught red-handed. However, before he could say anything in his defence, Filius spoke up, his voice low. "I agree. Albus, I think we will be having a long talk after this matter is settled. Please continue, Mister Potter."
Harry nodded, "I can only guess that McQuillen is using this as an excuse to play the victim and get me in trouble instead of facing an embarrassing situation. He's a Ravenclaw, a house known for their intelligence, something my friendship with Luna has taught me quickly." He caught a flash of pride flitter across Filius' face before it was crushed under the possible truth in Harry's theory.
"You were seen running through the castle shortly before Mr. McQuillen was injured." Albus said, grasping at straws.
"With all due respect, sir,I don't think my need for a lavatory is yours or anyone else's business." Harry countered, "I hadn't had a good opportunity to use the facilities today and it hit me all at once."
Dumbledore's frown deepened at not being able to catch the lad with anything. Everything that he threw at the boy, he had an answer for. What didn't help matters was that he couldn't read the blasted boy's mind anymore. He now had Occlumency Shields that he'd never seen before, whenever he looked at the boy's mind lately, all he found was himself in a strange forest, and he couldn't find any hint of the boy's memories anywhere. But he still needed to punish the young boy, if for nothing other than because of the changes the boy was making with what seemed to be just a few careless words. "Nonetheless, my boy, you'll be serving detention with Professor Snape for the next month."
Harry's head jerked back an inch in surprise as his eyes widened, Minerva beat him to the draw. "Excuse me? Albus, you can't go punishing a student for no reason. Aside from Mr. McQuillen's and his friend's word there's no proof that Mr. Potter did anything other than hold his bladder in a little too long." She protested, outraged at the Headmaster's actions.
"My decision is final, Minerva, the punishment stands." Albus said firmly. He almost grinned smugly at getting his way for once, something that was becoming uncommon lately.
Knowing nothing McGonagall or Flitwick could do from this point on would change the old man's mind Harry decided now was the time to come clean. He knew the two Heads of Houses would be interested to hear about Luna's situation. "Alright!" Harry said loudly, gaining the teachers attention away from the staring contest they were engrossed in. "I'll explain what happened and then you can judge who should be punished."
Filius was the first to speak, sending a hard glance at Dumbledore as he spoke, "Very well, Mister Potter, please give us your perspective of the event."
Harry nodded. "I was walking through the halls alone with Hermione. She had a personal problem that she was having trouble with and I was assuring her that if she ever needed to talk about it I would be there -"
"Five point to Gryffindor for being a good friend." McGonagall interjected with a smile.
Harry continued after giving her a smile and a nod, "Thank you, Professor. Anyway, shortly afterwards we walked in silence for a while before I became aware that Luna Lovegood was being cornered by three older students who had been giving her trouble throughout her time here at Hogwarts, which I'll explain later. I made my way to where they were and found McQuillen's two friends doing their best to look like they weren't guarding the door to the empty classroom Luna was in. After incapacitating the both of them I gained entry into the room. I'll admit that I was heavy-handed at how I dealt with them, however, from what Luna was worried about and the reason for my personal protection for her, I say they were lucky. I DID warn them what would happen to them should they even think about touching Luna again. As when I entered the room, I was shocked and angry to find McQuillen with his trousers around his ankles, trying to force himself on Luna. You can ask Hermione if you need an extra eyewitness, as she was just behind me."
Minerva and Filius gasped, but Dumbledore didn't react.
"As a friend, no matter how new of a friend I was, and as someone whom I had sworn to protect from bullies of any kind, I did what I had to to make sure she was safe. And to send a clear message to others who might want to do the same thing to Luna, or to any of my friends." Harry finished gravely.
"You said they had been giving Ms. Lovegood trouble before, what did you mean." Filius immediately said.
Harry sighed angrily, the subject still making him angry. "Luna was granted half-hearted protection from bullies from McQuillen, his friends, and a few other people in exchange for favours."
Filius was curious as to why the last Potter seemed to be so angered by something so mundane, so inquired further. "That doesn't seem that bad, Mr. Potter."
"Forgive my language, Professor Flitwick, but it's your bloody place to protect her! Not some students wanting something from her." Harry said with a sneer that would have made Snape proud, had he still been in the room. Seeing that Flitwick was going to say something, Harry went on to say, "The only reason why she and people like her are being bullied, is that they are worried, and rightly so, that there would be some kind of revenge taken out on them for speaking out and saying something. And even if they did say something, would you not think that the Headmaster would have done anything, someone that should have put a stop to this ages ago? We all know how much he likes to give people a second chance. And can you, Professor McGonagall and the other Professors, honestly say that until this year, you would have done anything to help her or anyone else who needed help?"
"No." Minerva admitted freely, ashamed. "I would have thrown around detentions and taken points, but that would have made things worse." Filius nodded, as he would have done much the same.
"As for the damn favours," He sneered once again, but with a hint of fire in his eyes and he said it, "I'm afraid I should have been more specific, she was required to grant her protectors sexual favours in return for their efforts. When I first met her she was wandering the halls, naked, because her house-mates had stolen her clothes and locked her out of the common room. When I gave her my robe she thanked me with a kiss, not a chaste kiss on the cheek, but a full kiss on the lips. When I asked her about this she was confused by the very notion that anything nice done for her didn't have to be repaid with physical affection." Harry explained angrily.
Filius was pale by the time he finished speaking, appalled that his house had done such a thing, while Minerva was almost shaking with rage.
"I will admit I have suspected Ms. Lovegood of being bullied for quite a while, but I never had any proof." Dumbledore admitted, wanting to try and save face.
Unfortunately, that just focused a very angry Minerva's attention on him, "And what did you do to investigate this further?!" She demanded. Dumbledore's silence resulted in a massive amount of the trust Minerva had in him turning to ash. "You're just lucky that we've got this damn Tournament, otherwise I would be going to the Board of Governors, to see you being removed from this school."
"When I saw McQuillen, well, just say that he was lucky that I don't believe in killing people, otherwise you would be missing a student, and trust me you wouldn't have found him." Harry continued darkly, "If you want me to serve punishment, you better have McQuillen and his friends serve punishment too. And I'll only serve mine with Professor Flitwick or McGonagall, I won't be serving it with Snape. We hate each other and with things the way they are this year, I don't know what he would do if we were left alone together."
"Mister Potter, don't you think McQuillen and his friends have been punished enough?"Dumbledore asked, ignoring the incredulous looks from his colleagues. He meant it rhetorically, but Harry answered anyway.
"No." He said firmly. "They've been punished for trying to rape my friend, but not for the years they've been taking advantage of her. Unless Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall do something about this I can guarantee a lot more people will be having unfortunate accidents with the stairs in the near future." He stated boldly. "And I can say that you'll have a hard time proving I was even near them at the time."
The Professors were taken aback by his possibly incriminating statement, but Filius was quick to assure him, "There will be no need for that, Mr. Potter. I assure you I will not rest until everyone involved has been punished and made aware of my displeasure at their actions. I don't like to ask this but did she ever sleep with anyone as a result of one of these favours?" The small man asked.
Harry shook his head, "No. She was a virgin after McQuillen attacked her."
"Was, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked dryly, with a hint if steel in her voice.
Harry's eyes widened at what could be perceived from that statement. The Professors would be on a war path, and he had accidentally thrown himself in front of them. "I didn't mean it like that, I would never do that to Luna!" Harry said in a rush, the panic in his voice real.
McGonagall nodded, her rising fears properly subdued before they could form. He seemed like he was telling the truth, and she believed him.
"The fact remains that Mr. Potter assaulted three students, putting all three of them in the medical wing." The Headmaster's stern voice brought them all back on topic.
"You can't be serious, Albus."Minerva protested again, glaring daggers at the older man. "Ms. Lovegood could have been molested and/or raped if Mr. Potter didn't intervene, he shouldn't be punished for stopping them!"
"That is true, Minerva,"said Dumbledore, "But there are less violent ways he could have stopped them. So the punishment stands, Mr. Potter will be serving detention with Professor Snape for the next month. We have to show other students that they can't take justice into their own hands." He was smirking inside, as he knew that for once this year, he was getting his way.
"As long as McQuillen gets punished too, I'll take my punishment," said Harry, "however; I won't be taking it with Snape. As I said, we hate each other and with things the way they are this year, I don't know what he would do if we were left alone together. I'll tell you now that if he tries something, I'm fighting back. I'll take my detention with either Professor Flitwick or Professor McGonagall, otherwise I won't be attending."
"You'll take your punishment were its assigned, or you'll be expelled." Dumbledore threatened, waiting for Harry to cave into his demands.
Snorting Harry replied, "Fine, I'll be leaving in the morning then…" Harry made to sit up, but Dumbledore beat him to it, jumping out of his seat.
"So, I'll be having the detention with Professor McGonagall, then?" He asked smugly as he saw the Headmaster nod in shocked surprise.
Albus couldn't believe it, he thought that he'd had the upper hand at last, but the casual acceptance of being expelled, almost as if he knew the headmaster couldn't expel him, he gave in to the demand. He obviously knew something Dumbledore didn't, but what? 'Worst case scenario, he had learnt about the prophesy.' Albus admitted gravely. "Fine, Mr. Potter, you'll have your detention with Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore said, defeated. He had no other choice; Harry Potter needed to attend Hogwarts so Albus could personally guide him to his destiny. He was really starting to hate this year, all his plans were falling apart, caused by whatever had happened to the brat of a child this past summer, "I'll leave Mr. McQuillen's punishment with Professor Flitwick."
"You have my word, Mr. Potter, Mr. McQuillen, his friends and anyone else who wronged Miss. Lovegood will be punished." Professor Flitwick said firmly.
"In that case, I bid you all goodnight, Professor McGonagall, I'll see you tomorrow for my detention." Harry said politely as he left the office and was out the door before Dumbledore could say him anything. Even if he tried to get up and talk to Harry, Filius moved from his spot to the chair Harry had just been sitting in and fixed a hard stare at Albus that stopped the Headmaster cold.
Meanwhile, Harry had just got to the bottom of the stairwell and let his rage show. He didn't want to think he'd grown arrogant but he was sure he could have gotten off without punishment by inciting the two Professors. Not like he was tricking them, most of everything he said was true. Plus, Dumbledore's almost constant Legilimency probe had been irritating at first and had left him downright murderous by the time he left.
Harry walked stiffly back to the Common Room. By the time he entered through the face lady's portrait the only person left in the Common Room was a worried looking Hermione sitting on the couch. "Harry!" She exclaimed as she saw him. "What did the Headmaster want you for?" She asked in a rush.
"Dumbledore tried to guilt me into admitting to injuring McQuillen and his friends. I shot down every one of his arguments that tried to prove it was me, but he was going to punish me anyway, despite having no proof." He held up his hands to stop Hermione's outraged comments, "I know, it's ridiculous, I ended up having to come clean when McQuillen was going to get off scot-free, so I'll be spending the next month in detention with McGonagall."
"That… that BASTARD got away without punishment for what he did to Luna?!" Hermione raged.
Harry was quick to assure her of the opposite though, "Professor Flitwick promised he would deal with all the students involved." He hooked an arm around her shoulder and led her to the stairs to the girls' dorms. "Thanks for waiting for me, but I'd like to get to bed, you should do the same, it's getting late."
Hermione calmed down after hearing that punishment would be given. "Alright. Goodnight, my Alpha." She said, giving him a kiss before making her way to her room.
Harry watched her go for a few seconds before turning around and making his way to his bed. It didn't look like any of the boys were still awake, but Harry wanted to be sure he was seen entering his bed. Closing the curtains around his bed he discarded his clothes until he was in his boxers and laid in bed for another fifteen minutes to make sure his act was bought. Unfortunately, that was a mistake and all it did was remind Harry of why he was so angry.
A black Kneazle shot down the dorm stairs and out of the portrait entrance moments later; off in search of a certain Maine Coon to take his frustrations out on.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Authors Note: Here is another chapter of Mishap, you all like it. And if you did please review and let me know what you think and any ideas you might have.
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