Escape a Monster…
The small Hong Kong born girl was sure that being cornered by a trio of Slytherins was not on her list of things to do that day, but she put that out of her mind as she tried to escape the grip of Crabbe and Goyle as they held her on the floor of the Astronomy corridor below the main room itself. Above her was the figure of Draco Malfoy as he sneered at her, allowed his gaze to wonder up and down before starting to undo his belt and drop his trousers. The girl's eyes widened as she realised what was about to happened and doubled her efforts to escape – all to no avail.
"I've always wondered what Chinese tasted like" Draco laughed, "And now I'm going to get my chance. Don't worry, Chink, this isn't going to hurt… Well, not for me anyway" and he pushed his underwear down and dove into her sacred spot – causing the girl to scream loudly before Goyle hit her with a silencing charm. "We wouldn't want anybody to disturb us or we'll have to start all over again" as he started to trust in and out of her. Silent screams poured from her mouth as tears ran down from her eyes onto the stone below her naked body.
"Please help me… Somebody help me" she thought in her mind. As Draco continued his sickening act on his victim for over an hour, cheered on by his two companions, the door a few feet away swung open and in walked a tall, messy haired teenager with his wand out and his eyes ablaze. Draco paused as he, Crabbe and Goyle all looked at Harry Potter who took in the scene and cast hexes and jinxes that ended up with them crumpled by the far wall. He turned his attention to the girl, became even more furious and conjured a robe that would cover her body that bore signs of a most terrible act. Almost as soon as the material touched her, the girl suddenly sat up and scrambled backwards away from him.
"Méiguānxì…you wozài, bù huì shānghài ni" he said and the girl stopped. She opened her mouth to say something, paused and pointed to her mouth and shook her head. "Finite" and the girl unleashed the cries that had bottled up in her. "Hey, hey, hey… Méiguānxì…you wozài, bù huì shānghài ni" he repeated, putting away his wand and assuming a non-threatening position.
"You… You speak Chinese" she whispered through tears.
"Not a lot, but it was covered in Primary School because of a lot of Chinese in the area" Harry said with a shake of his head. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Su… Su Li" before massive fits of tears came again and she clung to her rescuer. Harry froze as she hugged him for dear life before managing to get his wand out, cast his Patronus and tell it to go and get Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey with the school Healer being the main priority.
"Incarcerous" Harry said the spell three times as he bound the three Slytherins in the thickest ropes he could think of and then stunned them all for good measure. While they waited, Harry just hugged the naked girl and patted her gently on the back and made all the right noises that he did with Hermione when she got crabby and emotional every month. It was almost ten minutes later when hurried footsteps caused the girl to break away from him and scurry into the darkest corner she could find. Harry's heart broke as Pomfrey came up to him and took stock of the situation and he made a vague gesture at the corner and Pomfrey's eyes widened as she hurried over – McGonagall and Flitwick arriving as she did so.
"Do I need to ask what was going on here?" the Deputy Headmistress asked.
"I was taking a long walk around the castle to clear my head when I heard screaming that was cut off suddenly. I came in here and found these three animals holding her down and forcing themselves on her" Harry said.
"They what…?" McGonagall's eyes were wide as she took in the bound and stunned trio on the floor where they still lay.
"Who is it?" asked Flitwick.
"She said her name was Su Li and I think she's one of yours – at least, she had a Ravenclaw robe on"
"Did she say what she was doing here?"
"Not really… They'd silenced her and all I got out of her when I removed the spell was her name and tears" Harry looked down at Draco Malfoy and then at McGonagall. "Tell me he isn't going to get out of this like he always does, Professor – promise me he won't or I swear to God that I'll end him here and now"
"You will not" McGonagall said icily. "This is a matter for the Headmaster and the DMLE"
"Right now, Professor, I wouldn't trust Dumbledore if he said the sky was blue and had a signed note in radioactive gold leaf paint from the Pope to confirm it" Harry spat.
"You should show him the respect he is due" and McGonagall was surprised when Harry spun round with his wand partly up. She could sense Flitwick going for his wand slowly, but she was sure that Harry could see it too.
"Respect is earned, Ma'am – never is it simply given" he said calmly. "He and Snape have been giving Malfoy and his lot second chance after second chance after second chance – when will it all stop?"
"Minerva? I think Mr Potter is correct – Albus has been far too lenient on Mr Malfoy here. We should contact the Aurors and have them took these three into custody and start an investigation" Flitwick shook his head and looked over to where Pomfrey was talking quietly to Su Li and casting various spells. He noted that she hesitated at one point and then sighed before casting a spell lower down and tensing up as she did so.
"Minerva? Fillius? I need to take Miss Li to the Hospital Wing so I can get started on healing her" Poppy gave the girl a little time alone as she spoke to the two teachers. "She'll need to go to St Mungos for official confirmation, but from what I can detect and her account, she has been viciously beaten and raped"
"I'll gut him" Harry spun on his heel, "I'll gut the little bastard and wear his skin as a cape"
"You will do no such thing, Mr Potter" Flitwick brought his wand up and cast a spell at Harry who froze and then turned around and frowned at the tiny man.
"Was that supposed to do something?" he asked.
"You can't do anything to Mr Malfoy or else he can use it to get away without trouble"
"He doesn't deserve to live" Harry's grip on his wand was so tight that they could all hear the creaking of the wood.
"No, he does not. However, the law must be followed even in this case, Harry" McGonagall tried to calm the angry wizard down quickly. "I will send word to Professor Snape as their Head of House and also to their parents after I contact the DMLE. I want you to go back to Gryffindor and wait there until I call for you – it would be best if you did not speak of this to anyone"
"No" a little gasp came from the darkness as Su Li came running over and launching herself into Harry's side. "I want him to stay" she mumbled as she tried hard to hide herself in the taller classmate.
"Miss Li, I have to take you to the Hospital Wing" Pomfrey spoke gently to her, "And Mr Potter can't come with you for obvious reasons"
"What does it matter?" sobbed the girl. "I'm ruined and he's seen all I have"
"Perhaps I could come with you as Miss Li's Head of House, though I am sure Mr Potter is well mannered"
"Mannered, yes… Tempered, on the other hand…?" Harry looked at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, "Still at dangerous levels"
"Come, child, lets get you in a safe place" Pomfrey tried to get the girl off Harry but she clung on with determination.
"If you don't let go, I won't be able to walk with you" Harry prayed that the others would play along.
"You'll stay with me?" she whispered.
"Of course I will" and Su Li slowly unwrapped herself and stood up with one hand keeping the conjured up covering tight over her small frame.
"Perhaps a friendly face might be the thing" Flitwick nodded and Harry gave an appreciative smile to the Charms teacher.
"Very well, Mr Potter, I trust you to do the right thing" McGonagall said. "I will have to inform Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape and the Aurors no matter your own views – they have done a crime and those people need to be told"
"Right" Harry's tone didn't change, but it was clear that he was unhappy with her.
#
Hours later, Harry was still by Su's bedside after being examined by Pomfrey, questioned by the Aurors and samples of Draco Malfoy being taken from her and placed into an evidence vial – no matter what he did, she kept latching on to him for security as if she thought she'd die otherwise. Pomfrey explained to the bewildered teen about how people in the Ravenclaw's situation react and that Harry bursting through the door and defending her had made it seem like an answer from heaven. In-between the many bouts of crying and screaming, Su had asked Harry questions and he had answered her in Mandarin as best as he could because he thought that might be the best way to deal with her emotional state as her English was faltering at times. Later, the door opened and in walked a white man and an Asian woman who Harry assumed were Su's parents. They came rushing over to their daughter who was sleeping thanks to a potion that she had been given and asked just what had happened. The Auror who had been left on guard had told them everything and Su's mother cried as her father looked at Harry and thanked him for saving their daughter.
"I wish I could have been quicker" he said sadly. "Nobody deserves to go through that"
"And the ones that did it?"
"Being patched up at the hospital under heavy guard"
"She put up a fight?"
"No" Harry replied darkly, "But I rather lost my temper"
"I see. I am David Smith and this is my wife, Mulan" the man said as the woman bowed her head and then went back to sitting by her daughter's bedside. "You were expecting an Asian father, perhaps?"
"Honestly, yes I was"
"Most people do – Su got most of her looks from her mother. Anyway, I must thank you for saving my daughter from even greater harm"
"I was in the area and did what I could" Harry looked at the sleeping figure in the bed for a moment. "Just wish they won't get away with this"
"How do you mean?" asked David.
"The three that attacked Su are the sons of very powerful people – the one that did the worst is the son of a Death Eater who bribed his way out of being jailed the first time" Harry shook his head with disgust. "It also doesn't help that their Head of House is a former Death Eater and that our beloved Headmaster believes in giving everybody second chances and doesn't often punish the right people" he held up his hand that was still covered in scars. "I'm proof of that" he added bitterly.
"Is my daughter in danger?"
"Not as much as me, but I heard everything that Su told the Aurors and it was sickening. It was so bad that I can't bring myself to repeat it I'm sure that the Auror can get you a transcript" and the woman nodded.
"I can ask for the relief to bring it"
"Where is your nurse?" David looked around at the otherwise empty room.
"She is having a statement taken in her office" the Auror said. "We tried to get her away, but her time was being taken up by treating your daughter"
"Tell me, Auror" David was braving himself to speak the next part, "Did these animals who assaulted her…" he trailed off.
"Yes – one did at least"
"His name is Draco Malfoy and we all know who his father is and what he will do to get him off the hook" Harry growled. "If he somehow manages to escape this, I am going to call him out in a duel and end him"
"You hardly know Su" David frowned.
"No, but like I said… Nobody has to go through that. If I get to be the one that ends him, it will be a privilege" Harry assured him.
"It will be a decision as to who gets him first" David's voice dropped into one of danger. "I'll gut that bastard as soon as I set eyes on him. I'll peel his skin off whilst he's still alive, wear it for a cape and then finish him off"
"Not only is the kind of disturbing, you shouldn't have said that in front of an Auror" Harry gestured with his thumb and the Auror shrugged.
"I'd do the same" she grinned.
"How can I ever repay you for saving my daughter?" Mulan rose from the chair and stepped quietly over to her husband.
"I don't want money, land, property or anything like that"
"Then what do you want?" asked the woman softly.
"Friendship and all the Chinese curries I ever ask for" and the parents blinked several times before bursting into laughter.
"I think we can accommodate that" David said and Mulan simply nodded and smiled gratefully. Although she was very much a British subject, she believed in a number of traditional ways of repayment and was fully prepared to give herself to the boy before her. That he wanted friendship and a few good meals now and again was a poor exchange. She made a silent vow to always be there for the one that rescued her daughter from what had happened.
"It would be an honour to cook for a Yīngxióng"
"I am no hero, Ma'am, but somebody who merely knows right from wrong"
"You know a lot of Chinese for someone so young"
"When I went to Muggle Primary School, the area I where was started getting large amounts of Chinese people coming in. The Headmaster decided that it would be a good idea if we all learnt to understand and speak a few words to help them settle in and stuff. I liked it and I've kept up with lessons" Harry shrugged and looked at his watch. "It is late and I really need to go to sleep and also catch up with my friends" Harry paused as the doors to the Hospital Wing opened and Dumbledore walked quickly in and over to them.
"Mr Potter, why are you here? No matter… I have come to speak to you in regards to you dropping your allegation against Mr Malfoy and his friends. I have spoken to them and they assure me that this was a game that got a little out of hand" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly.
"No, Headmaster, I will not. Also, stop reading my mind or I'll get this Auror over here to arrest you" Harry grinned. "No, I will not – they deserve the book being thrown at them for what they did to Su. If you let them get away with this, it will send a message to everybody that its open season on rapings and sexual abuse. If you do that, I will personally end you" Harry's voice could melt ice with the fire it contained. "If I hadn't been taking a walk in that area to clear my mind of all the rubbish you have heaped upon me this year, Su Li could have been hurt even worse or even killed? Now, I still have a lot to learn about magic, that is true, but Hermione was telling me about wards and monitoring charms that are throughout the school – why did none of those alert you to what was going on? Did they perhaps tell you and you decided to ignore that warning because you needed to keep Malfoy in the school?" he spun to the Auror. "I'm underaged, but can I file charges or report a crime to an Auror?"
"Yes"
"Then I want to report Albus Dumbledore for aiding and abetting a Death Eater, giving aid and comfort to others of their kind and lastly of failures in the safety of his students"
"Those are serious charges"
"And I have plenty of evidence to back it up" Harry replied.
"What if Mr Crabbe and Mr Goyle were charged with helping in an attack on Miss Li?" Dumbledore pleaded.
"No. Now, I wish that our meeting could have been under better circumstances, but I really need to sleep" he nodded at David and Mulan, gave Dumbledore the finger and walked out whistling some sort of tune. Mulan who had spent most of life in Hong Kong knew the tune within seconds as that from the Army and she laughed at Dumbledore's expression at the departing Harry.
"Albus? What is going on here?" Pomfrey had come out of her office to see Su Li's parents and the Auror guard shooting daggers at him – if looks could kill, he would almost certainly be a ghost.
"Just the overexcited imagination of a teenaged wizard, Poppy. Now, how is Miss Li?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, but they did so at a far less intensity.
"She is doing well given what happened to her, but we need to move her to a specialist at St Mungos. I can treat the majority of the physical ailments, but the rest as well as counselling is their area of expertise" the Healer knew that something had happened whilst she was finishing off several reports for the hospital.
"Can they not be brought here?"
"No. And before you say it, Albus, the law states that rape cases must be fully examined at St Mungos. The only reason we are giving some time for that to take place is that Miss Li's magical core is unstable – not unexpected given the trauma she's been through. Mr Potter only stayed here because whenever he tried to leave, Miss Li tried to follow him out of a sense of security and safety"
"I see" Dumbledore turned to Su's parents. "Mr and Mrs Smith, I am sorry this happened to your daughter, but we need to forgive and put aside petty things for the sake of the greater good. Draco Malfoy is a problematic boy, I will admit that much, but the point is that we still have a chance to turn him back from darkness"
"I don't know what exactly you are trying to do here, Dumbledore, but are you seriously asking that we don't do anything to the one that raped our daughter?" David Smith let a hand drop loosely to his hand.
"Yes – the sake of the country comes above one person"
"Not in my view" David turned to the Auror. "I fear for the safety of my daughter – is it possible to increase the guard?"
"Actually, my tests state that Miss Li is stable enough to be transported to a private room at St Mungos whenever her parents agree"
"I can't allow that" Dumbledore said quickly.
"Can't allow what?" asked Harry as he shimmered into view – wand out and ready for spellcasting. "Dumbledore, I actually just hid from sight and heard everything. I can not believe you are this stupid as to demand parents forgive and forget their daughter's rapist. It shall make for an interesting debate at the next Wizengamot meeting where I intend to state all of this in open session, as much as Su and her parents allow, and call for your removal as Headmaster of this deathtrap"
"You will not attend for I forbid it. You are not able to take up your seat until I deem you worthy enough" Dumbledore actually seemed to believe what he was talking about.
"Oh, to hell with this… Stupefy" and Dumbledore's eyes widened before he knocked out and crumpled to the floor. "Madam Pomfrey, can you check to see if he is ill or something?" Harry sighed and shook his head. "He doesn't realise that by being forced to take part in the Tri-Wiz I got made a full adult in the eyes of the law. I would not have known except my ever loyal and loving friend Hermione gave me a crash course in it all – that girl is a miracle and should have feast days set up in her honour!"
"You sound as if you are serious towards her" David said and then was confused as to why Harry suddenly burst into laughter.
"I love her like a sister and she likes me as a brother. Now, unless she has a seriously kinky side that includes incest, there is nothing between us apart from an occasional bout of sex. Hermione is bisexual but is more licky then dicky. I only sleep with her when she wants no strings attached loving… Although what she did last night with the hamburger and the alphabetti spaghetti was interesting" he added absently. "Anyway, I don't know Su apart from what I could get out of her on the way here but she is under my protection during her remaining time here and I beg for you to let me be her friend"
"I think that is up to Su, Mr Potter" Mulan spoke, "But I certainly have no objections"
"Nor do I" David said. "If you'll excuse us, son, we'll be taking Su to St Mungos. You are welcome to visit if you can get permission"
"Thanks, I could do with the rest. Madam Pomfrey, I don't suppose I could beg a sleeping draught from you, could I?" and the woman nodded and handed him a small dose.
"I thought you'd want it eventually, but you didn't seem to tire" she explained.
"I didn't want the chance of anything happening to Su" Harry shrugged and pocketed the potion. "Right, I'm off – Auror, please tell me if there is some other way to screw up the day and let me know in the morning" and he left the Hospital Wing for real and didn't stop until he got to his dorm room.
#
Su Li was kept at the hospital for several days and then went home to spend the weekend in private meditation before returning to Hogwarts for lessons the following Monday. By then, the story of what had happened to her had been told and retold countless times and she ended up in the library in a very quiet corner that nobody seemed to visit.
"I thought I might find you there" she looked up to see Harry smiling at her from a reasonable distance.
"How so?" she asked.
"Want to be left alone whilst you study, think about things… Heck, this corner has a bum print from how many times I've sat in it" and Su giggled.
"I'm sure it does. I was going to try and find you, but the questions from people just got to me. I wanted to thank you for saving me from even greater hurt then what Malfoy caused"
"I'm only sorry that I couldn't have been there sooner" Harry stepped a little closer and then asked if it was okay to sit down next to her. "I didn't want to frighten you" he explained.
"How could I be frightened by my Yīngxióng?" asked Su, tracing circles in a book she was reading.
"I will tell you what I told your mother – I am no hero"
"You came charging in, defeated my enemies and made sure I got the right attention… What else could you be but a hero?"
"Well, seeing as you put it that way" Harry grinned. "I thought I'd find you and see how you were. I know this sort of thing won't vanish easily, but maybe a friendly face to talk to…?"
"I would welcome it" Su replied, "I have very few friends at Hogwarts after all"
"Really?" Harry blinked. "Me too. All I have is Hermione, Luna and now you"
"I thought you were friends with the Weasley boy"
"I was, but he made certain comments about what happened that has caused him to take an extended stay in Madam Pomfrey's tender and loving care" and Su frowned and then decided she'd ask about it later. "You've got the same afternoon off as we do, so do you want to come along for a picnic?" but the girl shook her head.
"I'm worried that others will try and attack me" she whispered.
"I've had the word passed around that you are under my protection and that you are not to be hurt – otherwise, I find out which house they are in and deploy a sugar crazy Luna Lovegood" and a weak smile came from the witch.
"Yes, she does tend to be destructive when she has too much" she agreed and then closed her book to look at Harry. "I still feel as if I have to pay you back for helping me"
"Be my friend and we'll consider it even"
"It has to be something more than that – magic decrees it and my own honour certainly would anyway. I would give you my virtue, but that's already been stolen from me" she paused, started to shake her shoulders and then buried herself into Harry's side. "WHY DID THEY HAVE TO DO THAT? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF IT?" she wailed. Harry's heart broke as he felt the tremors from the girl pass through him – he wished there was something that he could do to take the pain away.
"Do you want to go and see Pomfrey? Maybe she can give you a calming draught" but Su shook her head.
"It'll only calm me down – it won't take away the pain" she sobbed.
"I swear on my life, Su, that if that bastard manages to get away with a serious punishment I will personally tear him to pieces" Harry managed to get his arm around to his wand and cast his Patronus. "Go to Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey… Tell them I need help for Su in the library and lead them back here" and the ghostly image nodded before running towards a wall and straight through it on its mission.
#
"She is resting comfortably" Pomfrey said to Harry and Flitwick as they waited for news of Su.
"Isn't there something that you can do for her?" asked the Professor.
"Nothing that I can do, but I can certainly make a recommendation that she has the memories of her ordeal blocked and slowly released again to give her time to come to terms with it" Pomfrey shook her head sadly.
"Can I go and sit next to her?" asked Harry. Pomfrey nodded and Harry slipped behind the curtains and took the seat.
"He seems devoted to her" Flitwick said.
"Not devoted, but concerned for her safety and security – the trial is next week after all"
"I see… I have heard from members of my House that whenever they talk about what happened to Miss Li, Harry Potter is just around the corner" Flitwick smiled weakly. "I would have said it a child's tale if it were not for the fact I have seen it twice myself"
"Is he in love?"
"I can not say, but what I do know is that he blames nearly all of us for not doing our jobs correctly – that is something that I will take to my grave forever and will shame all those that go after me. If Malfoy gets away with this and Harry calls him out in a duel, I have already promised to be his Second, though I doubt that he will need any help as his anger with power his spells"
"He's not turning dark, is he?" Pomfrey was concerned. She was one of the few that knew the real identity of Voldemort and one of the very few that was taken prisoner and set free almost at once – both sides having an unspoken agreement that Healers were neutral.
"No, but young Mr Malfoy has got away with far too much in his time at Hogwarts thanks to Albus's Perpetual Second Chance. I've been thinking of finishing this year and then taking some time off and going back to my Goblin friends" Flitwick watched through a gap in the curtains were Harry took one of the sleeping Su's hands and stroked it gently – whispering something that he couldn't make it in an unknown language. "On the other hand, Poppy, best start making some of the potion" he chuckled. "You will keep me updated with how Miss Li?" and Pomfrey nodded.
"You will be third to know after Mr Potter and myself. I doubt that we'll be able to get him away from here for too long a time – when she was in here before, I ended up having to get Miss Granger to drag him physically out of here to get food"
"Now those two are devoted to each other" Flitwick said. "The pair of them have been through so much and yet are still extremely polite, well mannered and just soldier on. Mind you, I am sometimes worried that Albus is making Mr Potter soldier on for a reason"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, but when was the last time you knew the Headmaster took such a personal interest in a single pupil? The only thing I can't figure out is why he lets Draco Malfoy get away with so much and lets Snape harass him with insults about his parents"
"Severus was after the affections of Lily when they both attended"
"Truly?" squeaked Flitwick in surprise.
"When she started dating James, I think that drove Severus towards Voldemort before he turned spy for Albus. What was the reason for doing so, I have no idea, but when they died Severus spent weeks on calming potions" Pomfrey paused. "No, it can't be…" she whispered.
"I think it must be" said Flitwick. "At least for Lily that is"
"We better not tell Mr Potter about this or else he will lose his temper"
"Not tell me what?" and Pomfrey and Flitwick looked at each other sheepishly.
"Mr Potter, it is my regret to inform you that you have been here for hours"
"I know"
"And that you've missed dinner"
"Right"
"And the elves were serving chicken kiev"
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo….!" Harry cried dramatically.
"Mr Potter, I do not know entirely your intentions towards Miss Li, but I will make sure that you get word of when she wakes" Flitwick noticed Harry's eyes flash as he spoke, but he thought it was down to his emotions. Whatever the cause may have been, he was not entirely certain that he could have won a fight in that moment. Nobody knew Harry's true strength as Dumbledore had forbidden it to be tested in case word reached Voldemort and proved to be of some use to him.
#
Despite all the best efforts, Su was asked to give evidence at Malfoy's trial and it broke her spirit and Harry and Hermione, pushing past the Aurors, led her out of the courtroom and back to Hogwarts where she would be safe. Once she was safely back in her dorm, word reached her that Malfoy had been given a light punishment and would be back at the school in a matter of hours. This made the girl light a small flame under a potions cauldron and start making a large amount for later use. As it was brewing, she went and had a shower and then dressed in clean clothes before making sure everything was in order. When it finished, she decanted what was required, banished the rest and then cleaned everything before putting it away and securing the small cabinet carefully. She went to her bed, lay on top of it, and drank the vial in one go, cleaning it quickly and then banishing the thing into atoms.
#
"All students are to go to their dormitories at once and stay there until further notice!" McGonagall walked into the library and spoke with a raised voice. Hermione was by the desk checking out some books and was startled.
"Has something happened?" she blurted.
"Yes, Miss Granger… Something has indeed happened. Have you seen Mr Potter?" and Hermione gestured to a far off corner.
"We were doing our transfiguration homework – he'll be packing up now"
"Go and tell him to see me right away and then come back with him yourself" McGonagall was halfway out of the door before turning back briefly. "Call an elf to take your items back to Gryffindor and come to Ravenclaw" and then she went. Harry was only a few seconds behind her and he blinked in confusion at his friend who simply repeated the instructions as Harry went pale with fear. They hurried to Ravenclaw's tower and found the majority of the senior staff there displaying various emotions as they escorted the House out of their common room and down to the Great Hall.
"Ah, Mr Potter, I see that you have arrived" Flitwick looked devastated and appeared to only just be holding it together.
"What's going on? Is it Su? Has something happened to her?" Harry babbled.
"The wards that monitor the health of those in my House alerted me to something being wrong with Miss Li. As I was hurrying here, the wards told me that she had passed from a self inflicted poison"
"She's dead?" Harry stumbled backwards and almost fell down if Hermione hadn't held him tight.
"There was nothing that could be done, Mr Potter. It appears as if she knew what she was doing as we found her bathed, dressed in ritual clothing and having left a note behind" McGonagall was heartbroken for the boy before her. She was fairly sure that, soon enough, a romantic episode would happen between them and, perhaps, Hermione too given that Su Li showed signs of liking her as much as Harry.
"Where is she?" asked Hermione gently.
"Madam Pomfrey is just about to start testing her body" Snape was quiet and to the point. Something had changed about him, but Harry was in no mood to think about the Potions Master as he pushed past them and down the short corridor to Su's bedroom. Pomfrey was surprised to see him and even more so when she saw his wand out with Hermione replicating the act seconds later when she arrived.
"Leave her alone… She has done nothing to you and she should rest peacefully" Harry growled. Pomfrey thought Harry was acting totally out of character, but she didn't want to push her luck with two of the top students in the school facing her down.
"It is the law that I must perform an examination of the body where it is found" the Nurse protested.
"She didn't want it and it is forbidden" Hermione put in. "Su told us once that when someone of her faith dies, only family and close friends may handle her. We're going to need Cho here as she'll know more about it then what we do – at least until her family arrive for her"
"Mr Potter, I understand how you and Miss Granger must feel, but I am only trying to do my job"
"If you and the other teachers had done your jobs before, Draco Malfoy would have been expelled ten times by now. Dumbledork has a hell of a lot to answer for… Speaking of which, where is he?"
"He went to the Ministry to escort him back to school. He should be back any minute now"
"Hermione, stay with Su until her family get here"
"Where are you going?" Hermione wondered about her friend's emotional state.
"I'm about to put down an unhealthy ferret"
#
"Pleased to see me, Potter?" sneered Malfoy as he walked into Hogwarts half an hour later.
"Actually, yes I am" Harry smiled as he stepped forth. "I call a duel upon you, Draco Malfoy, for the unspeakable act you did to my friend. Not tomorrow… Not next week… Right this bloody minute" he saw the other pupils backing away slowly and spotted Flitwick running over. "Professor, will you be the judge?"
"Harry, my boy, perhaps we could talk alone in my office. Your anger is leading you to the Dark side" Dumbledore smiled.
"Professor, Su killed herself when she heard that Draco was going to be free to come here and taunt her. I swore to protect her and I failed – now to regain honour, I want to end this bastard. Professor Flitwick?"
"What is the end of this?" he asked with a sigh.
"To the death"
"Mr Malfoy?"
"Lets get on with it then" Malfoy sneered. "It will be a pleasure to put Potter in his place with the other Mudbloods" and they walked into the Great Hall which was quickly cleared and turned into a duelling arena.
"I know the answer, but it must be asked… Can honour be satisfied without bloodshed?"
"No, Professor… Not this time" Harry shook his head and slowly took his wand out and had it by his side. Malfoy simply smirked and Flitwick began the starting ritual.
"May the best person win"
"I intend to" Malfoy muttered.
"I doubt that" Harry said. As Flitwick began the ritual countdown, he put his wand in his pocket and then held out his wand hand for the sword of Gryffindor. After the Chamber of Secrets incident, he had read a bit about it and discovered that a true Gryffindor could summon the sword from wherever it may be to administer justice which, Harry had hoped, was the case here. To the surprise of everyone that watched, there was a flash of light and the sword dropped into Harry's waiting hand. Malfoy more or less wet himself on the spot as he realised what Harry had done and realised that he had only moments left to live – regretting only that he did not have much more to offer his Lord.
"Have mercy… Please" he whimpered.
"Did you show Miss Su any mercy? Did you show her any regret about your actions?" Harry's grip tightened on the handle.
"No… She's a chink and a slit eye – she should have been honoured I paid her attention"
"I'll take that as a no" and Harry swung the blade down and broke through his skin, through the body and out the other side. As Draco screamed in agony, Harry give a few hard kicks to the ribs and then let the sword go before walking away.
"Mr Potter, you have to finish it" Flitwick called to him.
"No I don't – there has been enough death today" Harry paused and turned to look at the Slytherin. "It's a humiliation. It would be humiliating,
having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. They say that mercy is the mark of a great man" he turned back towards the door after firing a spell that would cause every nerve in Draco Malfoy's body to fire. "Well, I'm all right"
#
Hermione looked at the girl sat in the oversized chair and shook her head sadly – her heart heavy from recounting the tale from long ago.
"Harry went on to do great things including defeating Voldemort and exposing Dumbledore for the liar and thief he was all along. After he graduated from Hogwarts, we went together on a trip around the world before he withdrew from public life except for just two situations"
"What are those?" asked the girl.
"He could always be seen once a week at Su Li's grave tending to it – even when he was unwell, he'd come out once a week"
"And the other?" the girl pressed in her quest for knowledge which reminded Hermione of her younger self.
"Harry gained his family's seat and would always be there to judge a case. He would never speak, but be there as a silent sentinel of justice to make sure that there could never again be a Sirius Black"
"Is he still alive?"
"Yes"
"Do you speak to him?"
"Not for a few years now. I know he takes an interest in Hogwarts as they always have a donation every year for the sole purpose of looking after the less fortunate and he always took care of Su's family" and the girl smiled for several seconds before something was brought to her mind.
"What happened to Malfoy?"
"After Harry prevented any chance of him ever having children, he was quickly transferred to a school in Russia in an attempt to gather supporters for Voldemort. However, we heard news just a few weeks later that he had been found hung with his throat cut – his parents tried telling everybody that it was Harry's work, but he had a concrete alibi for the time… Though rumours often popped up claiming otherwise"
"Do you know who killed him?"
"Yes" Hermione's aged fingers toyed with the gold chain that looped around her neck and ran down to connect to a small egg timer, "I do"
A/N:
Yes, boys and girls, I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
Reason I have not been writing as such recently is because I have had a terrible case of a bleed on the brain which I am more or less recovered from combined with writer's block caused by the medication. You will therefore be pleased that I am back and here to stay - expect a number of updates from various genres in the next few days.
Big shoutout to CharlieFenwick who's Star Trek TNG fics have helped me to get through a dark spot in my life. I highly suggest that you all read it as the main fic - and its spin offs - are so detailed and really build a world from just a few words.
Regards
Pixel And Stephanie Forever
