AN: I do not own Harry Potter, that honor goes to J. K. Rowling.
Thank you for reading so far. This chapter will talk about serious events in Harry's young life and they aren't happy ones. Mild warning that part of the chapter is dark and talks about mature and possible trigger warning themes.
Chapter 10: To Save A Friend
Harry was flanked by five Aurors as they descended the tower. He kept his head held high as students hurled insults at him and professors watched on with mixed expressions. Ron, Hermione, and Neville stood in the crowd with stunned looks on their faces. His chest tightened as he realized his friends would be staying in the same place as the monster. He tried to mouth the word snake to Hermione but got hit in the ribs for his effort by a sour-faced Auror. The middle-aged Auror who hit him had pinched, pale face that reminded Harry of someone who hadn't seen the sun in years.
The Aurors led him out of the castle and down the long path to Hogsmeade. "You will be side-along Apparated to Azkaban. The experience will not be pleasant. Try not to lose any fingers or toes," the same sour-faced Auror said with a sneer. The two female Aurors exchanged looks.
Harry felt like he was being forced backward through a tight tube as the world abruptly turned black. Just when he thought he would be squished into nothing, the pain stopped and the smell of the sea assaulted his nose. Wind and rain buffeted him as he was dragged to a massive dark tower in the middle of an island. Painful, piercing cold dug into the marrow of his bones as dark shapes flew through the air above the black structure.
"Aarav, the boy is having a strong reaction," a female voice called through Harry's dimming vision.
A high-cruel laugh pierced his ears and a woman's voice screamed. "Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" the woman pleaded. A warm blast of air exploded from Harry's chest as the darkness shattered. He sat up, coughing and looking around.
"A small taste of what the Dementors will do to you in here. You won't last long. I just hope you live long enough to stand trial," the sour-faced Auror sneered.
"Quiet, Aarav, this wouldn't be happening if he was Dark. If anything, this may prove his innocence," the blonde witch chided as she moved a glowing owl closer to Harry. Her beautiful face looked concerned as she looked him over.
He could feel the power radiating off the witch's Patronus. "A powerful Patronus," he gasped and felt his entire body shake. His muscles hurt and his body felt cold.
"You must not speak," the Auror ordered but gave him a soft smile. "You will be held on the first floor, away from the worst area of Azkaban until your trial. A guard will be rotated out. I expect your trial to start in a week or so."
Harry nodded, not trusting his sore throat. The Aurors back off and the Owl blinked at Harry before flying to its mistress. Freezing cold air permeated his body as the warmth provided by the Patronus dissipated. His breathing became ragged as he fought to keep the darkness from obscuring his vision again.
"Look at him," one of the male Aurors gasped. "He's…"
Darkness overwhelmed Harry again as the cold rushed into his body. "The cadet was found by James after lunch. Some of the cadets tied him up in their dorm and hit Bray's body. At some point after they left, Bray hung himself from the headboard of his bed with the bindings," a clinical voice reported. Harry's chest pounded as he found himself staring at the bulging eyes of the round-faced cadet. Tears rolled down his cheeks as the scene played over and over again.
"Harry, Harry, Harry!" a strong voice called from out of the darkness.
The scene changed, to a few hours earlier in the same dormitory where a scared, round-faced cadet was bound to his bed with bedsheets. Five cadets stood around the frightened boy holding socks. Harry shook harder as one of the older cadets turned to Harry and mouthed something. He tried to block it out, block out what he knew was said and shut his eyes tight. Jeering filled his ears as the scene played out despite his attempts to stop it.
Time distorted for him, broken by brief bouts of waking from his vivid visions. Sometimes he would see a worried-looking brunette witch standing in front of his cell, a fox Patronus sitting at her feet. Others, he would see the same blonde witch with the owl, sitting in a chair by the door. He knew the darkness and horrific dreams would begin again when Aarav took his place as a guard.
While Frankie's death dominated much of Harry's thoughts and visions, the scenes where he saw his mother and father alive gave him a sick sort of comfort. He watched them die, over and over again from over his mother's shoulder, staring into the black eyes of Voldemort. Unable to escape his torment, he tried to physically hurt himself in the dreams to wake up. The Aurors stunned him and healed him whenever they realized he'd drawn blood. For Harry, it was a blessed few hours of real rest.
Two Dementors hovered outside his cell window, their dark faces hidden beneath the hoods of their ragged robes. Any time two or more Dementors arrived, he knew he'd have stronger, more vivid, nightmares.
Harry stood, mute as he stared at the scene in front of him. Five cadets stood around Frankie holding socks. Harry watched on with no feeling anymore as one of the older cadets turned to Harry and mouthed something. Pain shot through his chest and made him wonder what new terrors he'd see. A sort of detached sense of giddiness blossomed in his chest when he realized his breathing stopped. It would be all over soon.
"Make him drink it, Kingsley!" a scared feminine voice said out of the mouth of one of the older cadets as he looked at Harry.
"This was a mistake in the first place," a deep voice said from another cadet.
Harry felt his head yanked back as confusion clouded his thoughts. A moment later, the creeping sensation of sleep filtered through his body and pulled him into complete darkness. Nothing else mattered but sleep.
"Harry, it's time to get up," a soft voice called to him out of the darkness. "Open your eyes," a familiar voice ordered.
He struggled to follow the instruction, afraid of what he might see if he did. Albus Dumbledore sat at the end of a bed with white sheets. He realized a moment later he was in a bed and not on the floor of the cold prison. "Professor," Harry muttered, trying to figure out if what he was seeing was real or another vision.
"You have been through a terrible ordeal, Harry. I am no longer your professor. Please call me Albus or Dumbledore from now on," Dumbledore said with a sad smile.
It took Harry a minute to comprehend what was said. "They sacked you? Lucius won?" Harry asked, his hands clenching into fists.
"The Governors felt I was no longer fit to run Hogwarts, for now. You missed your inquiry, having been admitted to Saint Mungo's Hospital because of your harsh reaction to Azkaban. You were cleared of all charges the moment the Wizengamot heard all the testimonies."
"A snake, the monster is a snake or a person who can speak Parseltongue," Harry blurted out as he looked at Dumbledore.
"Only a few understand this. Your friend Miss Granger brought the information that a Basilisk is loose in Hogwarts. It is the only snake in history who could petrify and kill. The Ministry charged Rubus Hagrid for reopening the Chamber of Secrets. He was framed for it the last time the Chamber was opened and got expelled from Hogwarts when a student died. Hagrid is currently being held in Azkaban until his second trial," Dumbledore informed Harry.
"There is no way it was Hagrid!" Harry said with a gasp.
"Hogwarts will be closed until the Ministry clears the school of the dangerous beast. I suspect, it will be a quick affair, as Fudge doesn't want to draw attention to the scandal. You have been in the hospital for three weeks."
"Three weeks!" Harry gasped as he sat up.
"Your mental health was… in question, so the healers decided to keep you in a dreamless sleep until you recovered on your own."
"That bad?" Harry asked with a shudder. His bones still felt cold if he focused on it.
"I am happy to see you fully recovered," Dumbledore said without answering Harry's question.
"What now? What should we do?"
"You will return to the Burrow until Hogwarts reopens. After that, I will ask you to make a choice. Go back to Hogwarts and possibly protect more innocents or remain at the Burrow and stay as far away from Hogwarts as possible. You know what lurks in the shadows and I'm not convinced the planner of these attacks is in control of the monster. Know this, help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it," Dumbledore informed him. "No matter what you choose, I will support your decision."
Harry nodded, not sure if he could speak. He hoped the Aurors could find the Basilisk and kill it before they foolishly reopened the school. His thoughts turned dark as he remembered the Aurors, causing him to clench his fists. He would not forget them.
"Harry, oh, Harry, I'm so glad you're all right," Mrs. Weasley gushed a few hours later. Dumbledore left after reminding Harry to recuperate and continue to learn. He recommended he begin to try and learn the Patronus Charm to block the effects of the Dementors.
"I'm okay," Harry answered, trying to keep a straight face.
"Nonsense, after a week in Azkaban, no sane witch or wizard would be okay," Mrs. Weasley snapped. "I will make that Cornelius Fudge pay for his ineptitude."
Harry felt nothing as he gazed at the zealous witch's motherly affection. His chest tightened as he remembered the pleading voice of his mother begging for his life and his father's death. He fought to keep a fake smile as Ron, Hermione, and Neville all visited him after Mrs. Weasley left to check when he'd be released. They talked some but it was a strained conversation. Once his friends left, he sat back in the bed and lost himself in his thoughts.
"I'm Healer Belby," a crisp feminine voice called to him from the door. A sandy-blonde middle-aged woman strode into the room and whipped out her wand. "How are you feeling, Heir Potter?"
Harry felt his neck prickle as he heard the name Malfoy had begun calling him. He wished he had his wand but heard from Hermione that Mrs. Weasley had it after the Aurors returned it. "Fine," he lied and watched the healer with narrowed eyes on her wand.
"Are you sure?" the healer questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Quite, thank you," Harry answered, without taking his eyes off her wand.
"My son told me what happened," Mrs. Belby said as she put her wand away. "I'm sorry they threw you in Azkaban without seeing if you were innocent or not first. The Ministry…"
"Is supposed to stun and hold all potential lawbreakers in a secure location in the Ministry before trial," Harry answered and cut the healer off. He wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.
"Quite," the healer muttered and looked Harry over. Her eyes lingered on the burn scars on his face but he didn't look away. "You were never treated here at St Mungo's for your burns. May I ask how you received them?"
"I'd rather not answer that, ma'am," Harry answered woodenly.
"Could I try a few spells to see if I can help smooth out your skin? We witches are rather good at cosmetic changes," Mrs. Belby asked with a wry smile.
"Thank you for the offer, but no. I wouldn't know who I was in the mirror if I changed too much," Harry said with an attempt at a smile.
The healer left after a few more routine questions with one last look at Harry before closing the door. In silence, Harry got lost in his thoughts again as he rubbed his chest with his hands. He felt cold while the heat of the sun through the false window made his skin red. Absentmindedly, he realized the Sunlight Charm was used on the window while an advanced Colour Changing Charm created the serene background behind the glass.
The door opened again and the last person he wanted to see walked in with two other Aurors, one of which he recognized. "Heir Harry Potter, my name is Kingsley Shacklebolt and I am here to apologize for your treatment. I and my colleagues answer to the Ministry. While it does not absolve us of our guilt, we are…"
"Soldiers doing what your general ordered," Harry spat, angry with himself for letting his calm slip. He saw all three Aurors wince at his words. "I have a fair understanding of how the Ministry works," he said in a cold voice.
"We were…" the female Auror with the Owl Patronus tried to say something but Harry shook his head.
"Doing your job. I understand how it works. Many Nazis felt the same." The two male Aurors winced while the young witch looked confused. "You've said what you needed to. Leave."
"As you wish," Shacklebolt muttered and ushered his colleagues out the door.
Harry realized his fists were clenched and blood pooled around his palm. His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to find his calm again. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the cold settling in around his bones. They left him alone for a few hours until Mr. Weasley came in alone and close the door behind him. He looked Harry over and took a seat by the bed.
"I won't ask how you're doing as the others have probably already done so. They don't know and don't understand how bad Azkaban is. The seeping level of hate, anguish, despair, and death is fueled by and enhances the power of the Dementors. Few who serve their entire sentences escape unchanged. While I haven't had the experience you did, I know my fair share of witches and wizards who have. I spoke to the healer a few days ago. To give you some perspective, what you endured could be equated to three months of psychological torture. Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious Unction was given to you on a regular basis to help soothe your mind. You were removed from Azkaban after nearly dying from the Dementor's effect on you. You were admitted here at St. Mungos under guard to wait for your trial while mediwizards kept you sedated. I won't sugar coat this, you were dangerous when they first tried to resuscitate you for trial," Mr. Weasley said with a somber voice. "Your mental health was in question and you were stunned by four Aurors, three of which visited you a little bit ago. Kingsley, in particular, was released a week ago after his arm was reattached via your wandless Severing Charm. You will not be charged for anything you did."
Harry felt numb while listening to Mr. Weasley's cold and succinct report. Arthur paused and sighed. "Your friends do not know what happened, only that there was a commotion and Hit Wizards were dispatched to your room. Molly and I do not blame you in the slightest. I can't say I'd fare much better in your place. Now, what I need to know before I allow you back in the Burrow is… are you still willing to stay in Bill and Charlie's old room?" the middle-aged wizard asked with a boyish grin.
Harry tried to smile as the tension drained out of his body. "Yes, but you need to know what is going on at Hogwarts."
"Dumbledore filled me and Molly in. We will see what happens in the future but for now, are you still up to learning more magic? I know I have a lot more to learn about Muggles."
Mr. and Mrs. Rivers denied Harry's request to visit and express his condolences. Harry fought to control his random bouts of anger or depression. He holed up in Bill and Charlie's room a lot of the day and spent the rest of it with the Weasley boys. Ron tried to keep Harry engaged with Quidditch as much as possible. Mrs. Weasley treated him as if he would break, making him angrier. Ginny stayed out of the way and talked little. Mr. Weasley spent as much time with Harry as his work would allow, talking about different charms. Harry answered any question Arthur wanted to know about the Muggle world.
Hermione turned up one day and moved in with Ginny a couple of days after Harry got settled in. She seemed chipper and excited to continue pushing their magical knowledge to the limits like nothing happened in the intervening month. Harry did his best to remain friendly and excused himself when he started to struggle with his anger.
Harry's days turned into a blur of books, Quidditch, and studying at the kitchen table with Hermione. One morning, Mrs. Weasley unfurled the Daily Prophet and gasped. "Hogwarts will be reopening next week. Aurors will be stationed at the school for the rest of the semester to ensure the safety of all students after the tragic death of Oliver Rivers," she read aloud.
"Any mention of if the school is safe?" Harry asked a minute later.
"The Prophet doesn't mention anything other than the school will reopen," Mrs. Weasley said with a frown.
"I'll be returning then," Harry said with a shrug. He'd given Dumbledore's conversation a lot of thought and decided to return to Hogwarts, for good or for ill. Hermione gave him a worried look but set her shoulders and declared she would return as well.
"I will speak to Arthur tonight," Mrs. Weasley said with a pinched look on her face as she looked at Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talked deep into the night. Harry listened to their muffled speech as he read by wand-light. He slept little, the visions he'd seen in Azkaban awoke him every time he tried to sleep. Hedwig was a quiet comfort every night and would hoot at him until he woke from his nightmares. He learned to use the Muffling Charm every night before he went to bed so Mrs. Weasley wouldn't get worried and talk to him the next morning. In the end, the Weasleys decided to return to Hogwarts, the promise of Aurors protecting the students helped sway their decision.
Portkeys were provided for every family that wanted to return to Hogwarts. The term would begin again on February 7th. Fred and George stopped him the night before going back to Hogwarts on the stairs. "Mate, got a second?" one twin asked and hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward their door.
"Sure, what's up?" Harry answered and followed the twin into their room. After he closed the door, both twins gave him a penetrating stare. "Yes?"
"What did you give to Katie and Angelina? Fred and I just got a letter from Angelina. Do you have one of the flashcards on you?" George asked with an excited expression on his face.
"Sure, I never leave my trunk without all seven cards," Harry answered with a shrug. He took a few out and passed it over to the twins.
"Seven?" Fred asked as he flipped over a red card to look on the back.
"Red for Transfiguration, black for DADA, orange for Charms, brown for Potions, green for Herbology, yellow for History of Magic, and purple for Astronomy," Harry ticked off the subjects with his fingers.
"How advanced is the magic in these?" George asked with a glance at Fred.
"Not bad by any stretch of the imagination. If I can do it, I know you two can too. Why? Want to make your own cards?"
"Not if Angelina is right. Your cards stumped her and made Katie mad enough to break out a book, oh the horror," Fred joked and tapped a black card with his wand. "This aquatic spell can be used to create a thin fountain or a powerful torrent of water depending on the caster's will," he read aloud and scrunched up his nose.
"Don't look at me, I don't know," George said after Fred shot him a questioning look.
"Aqua Eructo," Harry said and tapped the card. The card flashed a moment before a new question wrote itself on the card. "The results look more impressive than the magic it took to create it."
"There are so many possibilities you could do with this. Make your head invisible with a hat or better yet make a Bubble-Head Charm stay around your head so you could breathe in Herbology," Fred moaned and looked at Harry.
"You've got to teach us how to do this," the twins chorused.
Harry laughed a real laugh for the first time in weeks. "I'm telling you, it's not hard."
Chambers Fawley, a tall Auror with short brown hair in long brown robes, assisted everyone at the Burrow with Portkeys and helping them prepare for the long-distance travel. The Auror seemed skittish around Harry. He gave Harry a quick run-down of how the Portkey worked and warned him not to let go of the boot go or his trunk. Without another word, he activated the spell and passed the boot to Harry.
The spinning darkness and vertigo didn't affect him when he landed on a large down pillow in the middle of Hogsmeade. Students were appearing with their trunks one at a time on twenty cushioned landing zones. A growing pile of rubbish lay near four tents with healers standing by. Harry stood, drew his wand, and cast the Locomotion Charm on his trunk.
"Potter," a cool voice called.
Harry turned to see Kingsley Shacklebolt eyeing him closely. "If you feel dizzy or out of sorts, healers are standing by," the Auror said as his eyes roamed over Harry's body.
"This is nothing now," Harry said with a shrug. "I'd like to apologize for the incident at St. Mungo's."
"I was not permanently maimed and my teacher, Mad-Eye, would have done worse. I apologize for what happened all the way around," the Auror said with a glance behind Harry. "You should never have gone or been forced to stay for so long. An official statement and reimbursement will come shortly, but I believe it will have little comfort and for my part in it, I am sorry."
"It was a wake-up call," Harry said after a minute of watching more students arrive. Many of them threw up or couldn't walk for minutes after landing. Healers treated the stricken students with practiced ease and a liberal use of potions.
"I'm… I see," Shacklebolt said in a quiet voice. "Mel would like to speak to you whenever you are willing. She shielded you as best she could. Rona, well, she wishes you well."
Harry gave the dark-skinned Auror a sideways glance before moving off toward the castle. He heard his name muttered a few times as he stomped his way up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Most of the students looked listless and oblivious to their surroundings but a few met Harry's eyes with nods or sneers.
Katie Bell gave him a wan smile from the bottom of the girl's stairs. "Hiya, Harry," she said in a sing-song voice and wandered off to one of the open arm-chairs near the fire.
"She'll feel better like the rest in a while," a cheery voice called when Harry turned back around. Angelina grinned at him and looked him over. "Those cards you sold us are brilliant. Do you offer them for all the core classes? I might have a few people that would be interested in buying a few more off you."
"I do and I'll see how I feel a little later about that offer," Harry answered and tried to give his friend a smile. It felt forced and he saw Angelina's eyes soften.
"Okay, Harry," Angelina said and patted his shoulder as she walked by him. "Thank you again, for those study cards. I didn't realize how far I have to go. I'll pay whatever you want for a full set. I might not pass all my O.W.L.s but I really think those cards could help me."
Harry went to his dormitory and noticed none of the other boys had returned yet. He directed his trunk to the foot of his bed and canceled the charm. "Atholl," he muttered and watched as the trunk lid popped open. His books were scattered around the bottom of his trunk. He hadn't checked his trunk or used any of his books, relying on the bookcase in the Weasely's living room for material. It sent him into a towering rage when he realized the Ministry Aurors searched through his trunk sometime after they arrested him. It surprised him to find the banned book still in his trunk and wondered if it had been missed or the Aurors decided it wasn't worth taking.
He spent some time resorting his books and checking his ingredient supplies. Ron arrived while he was checking his vials for any expired potions. "Mate, you didn't wait for us," Ron complained as he sat down on his bed. His trunk popped into existence at the foot of his bed.
"How did the others do with the Portkey?" Harry asked as he held a purple vial up to the light and peered through it.
"Hermione and Ginny are still with the healers. Fred and George are giggling and set off a few fireworks to impress a pretty Auror," Ron said with a laugh. "Percy did okay, but not as well as you and me," he added with a wide grin. "Dropped off on the cushion without a problem and only a little dizziness."
"Wonder how much will change with all the Aurors around. It's not like Hogwarts is safe if they didn't kill the Basilisk," Harry said with a shrug. "I hope they took Dumbledore at his word before they sacked him."
"I don't know, mate," Ron said in a low voice. "I heard a few Aurors talking in low voices about drawing out the attacker."
"They wouldn't use the students as bait, magical children are treated with too much importance for that. I got the impression they think the culprit has been caught with Hagrid's arrest and are just waiting it out. I can't wait to hear the explanation they used to explain why I was arrested."
"Anyway, what are you and Hermione going to work on now?" Ron asked as he changed into his robes.
By evening, all of the Gryffindors felt better. They talked loudly over each other as they caught up on their friend's lives during the unexpected break. The mood turned somber when a loud conversation about Dumbledore being removed as Headmaster caught the attention of a few students.
"Why don't we ask Harry, he was the one arrested," a female voice said over the conversation.
Harry, playing wizard chess with Ron in the corner, looked up to see the entire common room dead silent and looking at him. "Ask me what?" he said as a cold tingling spread through his body.
"How did Rivers die? We all saw the Aurors take you away by wand-point," someone asked.
"Yeah, how did it happen and why did Professor Dumbledore get sacked?" another called.
"Why didn't you stay in Azkaban!"
"How was Azkaban?"
The torrent of questions stopped when Fred or George set off a firework in the middle of the common room. Amid the screams of surprise, Harry cast the Smokescreen Spell to escape through the portrait hole. Some of the furniture in the storeroom reverted back to their original forms. He was convinced the castle was alive and had innate magic or used counter-magics on foreign changes. After transfiguring everything back to how he had it before, he lay back on the couch and tried to ignore his frustration and anger by using his flashcards.
"You didn't come back to the dormitory last night," Ron muttered as they sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. "We couldn't get out this morning because the Aurors made us wait to be escorted. Professor McGonagall is now the Headmistress one of them said."
Ron's information proved to be correct when Headmistress McGonagall stood in front of the podium with a portly little man with rumpled gray hair. The pinstriped cloak and lime green bowler hat stood out from the sea of black robes of the students.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, students. I am acting Headmistress until the Ministry and The Governors vote on the next Headmaster or Headmistress. Until then and after, we will continue learning. Hogwarts has produced powerful, successful, and intelligent students since its creation and will continue to do so well into the future. The Minister has a few words before I release you for your classes with a few more words," Professor McGonagall announced and stepped away from the podium.
The Minister of Magic stepped up to the ornate podium and beamed at all the students. "Welcome back and thank you for putting your trust in me. To those who do not know me, I am Cornelius Fudge," he gave a beaming smile as he looked over the Great Hall. "The unfortunate accident that took Oliver Rivers' life is behind us now. You have my assurances the perpetrator has been caught and nothing else will affect your education. I see many familiar faces. Your parents are employed by the Ministry and have provided much for the magical community as I'm sure many of you will too in their footsteps," Fudge said while students glanced at each other. Harry received a few glares when the Minister announced the perpetrator was caught.
"First, I would like to express an official apology to Mr. Harry Potter for his arrest and has since been cleared," quiet muttering buzzed around the hall as everyone looked at Harry, "Second, fifteen Aurors will be posted at the school until the end of the term to provide comfort and… guest professors!"
The hall exploded with small conversations at the prospect of an Auror teaching one of the classes. Harry noticed the strained smiles on many of the professor's faces at the High Table. He waited for the other shoe to fall.
"Settle down, settle down," Fudge called with a smile. He puffed up his chest as he looked around the hall. "A few Aurors will be available at certain times to provide instruction after classes and before dinner. To ensure all students make it to class on time, Aurors will escort students in groups to class and answer questions if they can," he said with a chuckle. "Don't go asking them department secrets."
Fudge beamed at them all again but got a less excited response. "It won't be troublesome and you'll be providing training to our Aurors for protecting high-value assets. Think of all the charms you could ask them to show you," he hinted with a boyish grin. "Now, enjoy your year and those sitting O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s get priority for counseling sessions if needed. I will hand it back over to Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall." Fudge waved at the students before stepping aside and walking to a small cluster of tight-lipped Aurors who didn't look happy at all.
Professor McGonagall took the podium again and gave Fudge a disgruntled glace. "A few more announcements before we begin breakfast and you are released to classes. There will be no after class curricular activities going forward," she announced to a deafening roar of protest. A purple spell shot from her wand and exploded high above her, silencing the hall. "Enough, this is not up for discussion."
Harry noticed a murderous look in her eye as she glanced at Fudge standing in the corner of the hall. "Quidditch too, mate," he whispered to Ron's horrified look.
"All clubs and activities must be cleared and an appropriate professor or Auror must provide escort. The only after class areas permitted are the Library, Study Room one and three, and your common rooms. If you are found outside these permitted areas, you will receive detentions most unpleasant. I expect you to continue learning despite these inconveniences, this is a school, not a playground."
Harry watched as Professor McGonagall waved her wand, causing the tables to fill with food. She gave them all one last hard look before leaving the podium and walked over to Fudge and his Aurors with a stiff back.
"You think she'll let us apply for Quidditch again?" Ron asked in a low voice as he piled food on his plate.
"Doubtful," a burly voice answered from a little way up the table. Wood looked forlorn and depressed. "I spent so much time," he muttered into his goblet. Harry wondered if the captain might burst into tears.
Breakfast went by in a flash as everyone speculated on how their school lives would be changing. Harry wished he'd stayed at the Burrow so he could hire a tutor and work on learning more magic without dealing with other students and inconveniences. He remembered Dumbledore's request and sighed. The danger and threat of the Basilisk made him look at Hermione. He admired her dedication to learning and nerves of steel knowing she might be targeted for being a Muggle-born.
"Hurry up and don't speak," a grim-faced Auror told the group of second-year Gryffindors and Slytherins as they left the Great Hall. The balding wizard had part of his ear missing and two long scars across his neck. He glanced at Harry twice during the trip to the dungeons for Potions with Snape.
Harry ignored Ron's constant complaints about Quidditch and focused on the review test Professor Snape gave them. The professor looked angrier than normal when the unnamed Auror took a seat in the back of his class. Harry realized his test was different than Ron's when he peeked at his friend's parchment. It explained why he was struggling with some of the answers. He wondered, not for the first time, if the professor was teaching him or trying to humiliate him. Once he got to question nine, he had to rewrite the answer four times before he was satisfied with his answer on the Ageing Potion and its uses.
"Your answers will serve as the grades you would have gotten if you hadn't had your extended vacation," Professor Snape announced as he collected the tests at the end of the class. A chorus of groans echoed around the classroom. Neville put his head on the desk and bounced it off the hard surface while muttering incoherently. The professor's sneer turned upward at the corners of his mouth.
"Slytherins stay until Dawlish comes to get you. Gryffindors, follow," the balding Auror ordered as he stood and dusted off his black robes. He shot a hateful look at Professor Snape before marching out of the class.
No one spoke as the Auror led them through the halls to Herbology. Harry noticed the sour-faces of the Hufflepuff third-year students passing them as they headed toward the dungeons. Kingsley led the group with his eyes searching the passage ahead of them. The two Aurors exchanged quick glances as they passed.
"This is horrible," Harry muttered for the seventh time that day. He tried to pass the time between classes by using the flashcards until his boredom got the better of him. The Invisibility Cloak hidden in his robes felt like a heavy, tempting burden against his chest. The students were quite at lunch, reminding him of lunch at Providence when everyone was ordered not to speak. A growing dislike of the Aurors built within him as the day passed.
"Those going to the common room, raise your hand," the same balding Auror asked as he left the Defense Against the Dark Art's classroom. Gilderoy welcomed the Auror with a bright smile and attempted to shake the wizard's hand. The grim-faced Auror ignored the enthusiastic professor and took his place at the back of the classroom, his eyes wandering over the students.
"Library," Harry announced to his friends, making Ron grimace.
"We could go to one of the Study Rooms," Hermione suggested in a quiet voice. She'd been subdued all day and hadn't tried to answer any of the open-ended questions the professors asked.
"Library," he said again in a harsher tone than he'd intended. "We've got something to study."
Neville and Ron blanched at the implied meaning. Hermione froze and nodded after a moment. "If you're headed to the Library or Study Room, stay here until Kingsley comes for you," the Auror instructed before leading Seamus, Dean, Lavender, and Fey away.
"Harry, my boy! Have you given much thought about what we spoke about before?" Gilderoy asked as the rest of the second-year Gryffindors went back into the classroom.
Harry tried not to grimace as he felt the eyes of his peers and friends turn toward him. "Thank you for the offer, professor, but I'll continue to work on my own for now."
"A shame, a shame," Lockhart said with a beaming smile. "I have much I could teach you. Not like those grumpy Aurors. Personal tutoring from yours truly," he tempted with a dazzling smile.
"I'd like to get settled in before attempting to push myself more, sir," Harry answered with a blank face. He noticed Parvati's curious look and didn't want the imbecile professor to let anything slip about his advanced coursework.
The four friends sat around a polished table at the back of the main area of the Library. A large pile of books blocked the view of the two stationed Aurors and Madam Pince. "Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic sizes, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it," Harry read in a quiet voice.
"Hagrid mentioned all his roosters were killed shortly before Christmas when we were in the Great Hall. He was afraid something from the forest got them and hoped Fang would be all right," Harry said as he felt a sliver of cold air seep into his body.
"It's obvious the Aurors know what they are facing," Ron muttered with a sigh. "They keep watching after us even when we don't want it and canceling our Quidditch games. Not to mention our fun!"
"I don't think they do," Hermione whispered and glanced at the nondescript brown-haired Auror lazing in his chair by the door.
"Some do, most don't," Harry speculated with pursed lips. "I think Dumbledore tried to warn those he could or knew would listen. Did you see how many of the Aurors looked to Kingsley first and those who looked to Fudge in the Great Hall this morning? There are clearly two factions within the Aurors. Chain of Command is important in any dangerous situation."
"You sound like you know from experience," Ron said with a snort. "Mate, you're twelve like the rest of us."
"I've been lectured by veterans and been shown examples of why Chain of Command is so important. Unless I'm very much mistaken, Minister Fudge seems to think of his reputation first. He made Professor McGonagall tell us the bad news, gave a halfhearted apology to me about my imprisonment, didn't tell the magical community what really happened, and more importantly opened the school back up without killing the monster. Either he doesn't believe that a Basilisk did this, or he is more worried about his position than the safety of magical children."
"I agree," Neville said into the silence. "Gran didn't want me to come back. I talked her into it, but she sat me down the night before we returned and explained what sort of wizard Fudge really is. It wasn't pretty, Harry. The thing's he's passed and said in the Wizengamot would make me think he's a blood-purist worse than Malfoy's family."
Harry hummed and pointed at the book. "This should be our first goal. How do we protect ourselves and the other students?" he questioned. "I can't imagine the Aurors or Professor McGonagall agreeing to let us carry around a rooster."
"Mirrors!" Hermione said with a fierce grin. "The Basilisk petrified all… well, almost all the other people because they didn't look the snake in its eyes. They saw the reflection! Mr. Filch saw it in the water and Luna saw it in the crystal clear glass of the window. It must no be instantaneous because both of them showed some reaction. Nick and Peeves saw the beast head-on but they can't die again."
"A temporary solution but a brilliant idea," Harry praised and looked at Ron and Neville. "Any ideas? Even if they seem stupid?"
"Hermione's Sending Charm," Neville said after a minute of thinking. "Somehow send the crowing of the rooster rather than keep it with you?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other in thought. "How do you fight something you can't see?" Ron muttered. "Kind of like you, Harry. If you don't want to be seen we can't find you. We should put a bell on you, mate."
Harry raised an eyebrow and realized his friend might be right. "I wonder if the Caterwauling Charm could be changed to a sound rather than screeching or like Neville said, a Sending Charm. Maybe some sort of locating spell so we can find the snake with our eyes closed. I get the feeling it is magically resistant since it attacks magically. Homework before a little more research?"
Ron groaned but opened his schoolbag. He complained constantly about not having Quidditch to look forward to after homework now.
The Great Hall during dinner was a little louder than lunch but it was obvious the five Aurors in the hall cowed the students into being quiet. The somber ambiance didn't bother Fred and George, who spoke loudly and shouted jokes to anyone who would listen.
Life at Hogwarts turned into a monotonous repeat save for the change in classes each day. Harry and Hermione worked on trying to create spells under the noses of the Aurors in the Library and Study Rooms. Neville remained in a bad mood when he realized he couldn't visit the greenhouses anymore. Ron cursed under his breath about returning to Hogwarts and stayed in the common room whenever he wasn't dragged off to the Library with the others.
"His public apology only extended to his words here and not in the magical community," Harry announced one morning at breakfast. His anger toward the Minister grew when he bought a subscription of the Daily Prophet. Fudge was spinning everything that happened at Hogwarts into a wonderful experience for all the students. It couldn't be farther from the truth. The students, used to having freedom after classes, were now crammed into small rooms, the Library, or their common rooms despite their attempts otherwise. Fred and George were the second group of students to receive detentions. The first group was comprised of three Hufflepuff fourth-years who wanted to play Quidditch to blow off their anxiety. They were caught minutes after leaving their common room and were paraded around the Great Hall by two hard-faced Aurors who made fun of them for getting caught. Kingsley watched on with narrowed eyes. Their punishments were to tutor the first-year students instead of working on their own coursework.
"Hagrid's trial has been pushed back another month. They shouldn't keep him in Azkaban," Harry muttered angrily. "That place is evil, worse than the concentration camps!"
"I know you're angry, but take a deep breath, Harry," Hermione said in a gentle voice. "Hagrid will be fine."
"You guys don't know how horrible it is," he answered in a small voice. "Damn this Ministry of Magic."
The atmosphere through the school was strained. Harry, used to the regime of study and hard physical education, barely noticed the changes but many of the students born and raised in the wizarding community chafed under the new regime. It took Ginny's outburst one night in the common room to make him wake up and realize how serious the situation was. He looked up from his flashcards to watch the fiery redhead yell at Percy for trying to help her with her homework. Her hands shook and she threw a book at him.
"What got into her?" Ron muttered and moved another piece on the chessboard. He and Neville took to playing a few games of wizard chess before bed every night while Harry and Hermione reviewed, studied new concepts, or worked on the spells they planned.
"She's stressed, Ron," Hermione tutted from her chair. "We're all stressed. We can't do anything other than study."
Harry, Ron, and Neville all looked at their bushy-haired friend. "You… you complained about studying too much?" Ron goggled and knocked over his knight by accident. The angry chessman bellowed at Ron. Everyone ignored it.
"I like to have fun too! I don't just read and learn all day. I enjoy a nice relaxing bath with a book or…" she said before her face turned pink. She ducked her head and muttered something.
"I forgot they would limit the bath times as well," Harry muttered and looked at his male friends. They all showered as fast as possible. He looked around the room and noticed some of the older female students looked tired and disgruntled. His eyes fell on Ginny who was sulking in the corner. Her eyes were wide and her hands shook. She snacked on one of the many pasties from the long table as she stared into nothing.
"Ron, how much has Ginny been eating?" He asked and turned to the girl's older brother.
"How would I know, mate?" Ron answered with a laugh. "Why? Still on about her not adjusting well."
"Hermione, any idea?" Harry asked in a professional tone as he sat straighter in his chair. He looked closer at Ginny and noticed the dark rings around her eyes.
"No? Why?" Hermione answered as she sat up. "She looks tired is all, we all are. Especially after Rivers…" she said and trailed off.
"This is different," Harry muttered. "Have any of you been depressed before?" he asked.
Ron snorted and gave him a wry look. "You mean like right now? When I can't play Quidditch?!"
"No, sorry Harry," Neville said with a small shrug.
"Harry, witches and wizards don't normally get depressed like Muggles do," Hermione lectured but her face showed some concern. "You think she's depressed?"
"Overeating, lack of sleep, irritability and emotional outbursts. I saw her crying yesterday but today she wants to rip someone's head off. Now she's staring off into space and binge eating. Hermione, those are all strong signs. I've seen them before."
Neville looked at him with a sharp look. "Providence?" he asked.
"It wasn't an amazing place. You think this is bad, try adding being dead tired from physical activities on top of the constant grind of studying. Yeah, right now Hogwarts sucks because we don't have free time, but at Providence, I didn't even know what the word free time was. Just keep a close eye on anyone who is acting weird," Harry ordered with a sigh. "I'll see if I can't talk to one of the professors too."
"Why are you interested in the other students all of a sudden?" Ron asked with a laugh. "Mate, normally you'd ignore the lot of them as long as they didn't bother your projects. What's changed?"
"Dumbledore asked me to watch out for them," Harry said after a minute. "Well from the beast, but… depression is nothing to ignore… ever."
Professor McGonagall brushed off his warning about the other students. She told him they were stressed and adapting to the school's new policies. His worry grew as he watched Ginny over the next few days. Her listlessness and overeating were overshadowed by her mood swings. He decided to do something about it when her irritability disappeared, only to be replaced with a quiet, scared little girl.
"Hermione, I'm not waiting for something bad to happen. Help me distract Auror Inwood. I'm going to get Madam Pomfrey," Harry pleaded after class on Friday. His gut was screaming at him to do something.
"You'll get in trouble!" she hissed at him.
"I'd rather be in trouble than find out that Ginny killed herself," Harry shot back with a glare. "If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. I'm not standing by again," he hissed back.
Hermione gave him a wide-eyed look that turned resolute. She nodded to him and turned. "Auror Inwood, can I ask a question… Oh!" she said before tripping over her feet into the Auror. Her head hit the older wizard in the gut, making both of them crash to the ground.
Harry took a step back and hid behind the open door to the classroom. He threw the Cloak over himself and took off for the Hospital Wing as fast as he could. Two Caterwauling Charms went off during his trip, bringing multiple Aurors to the area to investigate. He passed Kingsley, his wand drawn, in the corridor and barely escaped without being discovered. The next corridor had a book laying on the floor in the middle of the passage. Harry, paused and shot red sparks at the book. The book wailed and screamed when the spell got close.
Knowing what to look for, he dodged the other traps. If he saw random clutter or junk in a corridor, he'd go farther away and use a secret passage to go around it. It took fifteen minutes to get to the Hospital Wing Corridor. He pulled off the cloak and ducked inside as fast as he could.
"Madam Pomfrey, I need your help, please," he called into the empty room.
"Harry?" a voice called from one of the open side doors. The healer stepped out and looked him over. "You seem all right to me."
"It's not about me. It's about Ginny. Please listen to me when I say I've seen the effects of severe depression and I don't want her to hurt herself because of it!" Harry said in a rush so Madam Pomfrey wouldn't brush off his worries.
"Symptoms?" the healer questioned as she pulled on a large yellow cloak.
Harry froze, unused to the quick response of an adult when he needed something. "Uh," he stammered.
"I believe you, Mr. Potter. I've been waiting for someone to crack. It has been proven that witches and wizards have to use an outlet of physical energy to offset their magical energies used. This isn't a myth and has been proven over and over again throughout history but the Ministry won't listen. They mean well but it will harm the students in the long run. What are her symptoms?" she asked again in a harder voice.
"Lethargy, irritation and combative behavior, insomnia or lack of sleep from the bags under her eyes, overeating and absent-minded eating, and now she's gone quiet," Harry reported as he opened the door for Madam Pomfrey.
They set off a Caterwauling Charm three minutes into their walk to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ten Aurors appeared less than a minute later, aiming wands at them. "What are you two doing!" one of them demanded.
"I am performing my duties as a healer, move!" Madam Pomfrey demanded and kept walking toward the Aurors.
"Please explain," Kingsley said as he appeared behind them.
"A student brought something to my attention that must be handled delicately. I am a healer and demand my right to see my patient even if she doesn't realize she is one yet."
"Harry you will be coming with us," Dawlish called as he shifted his feet into a dueling stance.
"He will not as is needed," Madam Pomfrey demanded. "Move all of you. Go guard the toilets or something. You have brought nothing but problems."
"You cannot command us," a sour-faced wizard called. "Only Minister Fudge can."
Harry saw Kingsley's eyebrows twitch as he fingered his wand under his cloak. "I'll come with you after, but this is too serious to ignore," he said to try and placate the aggravated Aurors.
"I will come with you," Kingsley stated and waved his wand. "Return to your posts and keep an eye out," he ordered. "After you… healer," he said in a low voice.
Madam Pomfrey led them the rest of the way to the tower. Dawlish joined them without Kingsley's consent. "Let me draw her out," Harry said after a moment. "She might feel attacked if we all go in together."
"Sound reasoning," Madam Pomfrey praised with a grin. "We will wait here," she hissed and turned on the two Aurors.
Harry ignored the heated argument behind him as he entered the common room. His eyes fell on Ginny who was muttering to herself in an alcove. Ron and Neville started to call him but Hermione shushed them up. He walked over to Ginny and crouched down. "Ginny, can you come with me? I have a question," he said in a low voice.
Ginny looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "I… I…" she stammered.
"You wanted to tell me something before and I want to see how far you've gotten with your studies," he coaxed with a smile.
Tears leaked out of her eyes as she nodded. Harry stood and put a hand on Ginny's back. He noticed Percy glaring at him and started to rise. He shook his head and mouthed "Pomfrey" to him. Percy was one of the first people he tried to recruit to spend time with his sister more. The results weren't what either of them wanted.
Ginny gasped as soon as she left the portrait hole and froze. "I… didn't do it! I didn't do it!" she cried as tears fell from her eyes.
"We know, dear," Madam Pomfrey soothed and gave the inconsolable girl a hug. She waved her wand over Ginny and froze. "Kingsley, I believe you will come with me, now," she ordered and gently led Ginny off down the corridor. Dawlish looked at Harry before leaving.
"What was that about?" Ron asked as Harry sat down.
"I got Ginny help," Harry said with a glare. "She's your sister and you can't even tell she's in trouble."
"Mate, she always bounces back," Ron said with a sigh. "She's like mum in that way."
"Would she bounce back if she killed herself?" Harry spat and stood. "I'm going to bed."
Ron and Neville looked shocked at his question while Hermione stared at him with a sad look on her face. An hour later, Kingsley knocked on the dormitory door before opening it. Harry lay on the bed using the flashcards as review and while writing out more questions to add.
"Heir Potter," he started but Harry cut him off.
"Please call me Potter, Harry, or if you have to Mr. Potter. I'm not an heir to anything," he said with a sigh.
Kingsley paused and nodded. "Mr. Potter, please come with me. Your friend Ginevra would like to see you." He held open the door and expected Harry to follow him.
Harry noticed how somber and reserved the bald Auror was as they walked through the corridors. When they got to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey was waiting at the door. "Harry, dear, before you go in. Please know, poor Ginny is in a rough state. Something has happened and we don't know what it is yet. She isn't quite herself and is blaming all the attacks on herself. She'll be moved to St. Mungo's tomorrow to receive memory treatments."
It took Harry a moment to process the information as a heavy weight dropped into his stomach. He nodded to Madam Pomfrey and looked at Kingsley. "I'll be sure to be supportive," he said in a quiet voice.
The doors opened to reveal Ginny laying in the closest bed to the door, her drawn and pale face managed a weak grin when she saw him. "How are you feeling now?" Harry asked as he took a seat next to her bed.
"Mum is going to be livid," Ginny said in a small voice. "Thank you," she muttered in a softer voice. "I… I…"
"You're the sister I never had, Ginny. I'd do anything to help you," Harry answered with a grin.
Tears burst from Ginny's eyes as she cried into her blankets. "I killed Rivers, I know it. My friend Luna almost died too! Filch and all the others," she babbled and cried. "It was Tom, I know it was. You have to believe me."
The name Tom tickled Harry's memory but he couldn't figure out why the Leaky Cauldron owner would be involved. "Tell me what you know then," he suggested. Dobby and Lucius Malfoy were strong suspects for the events of the year and remained in the back of his mind.
"I started to lose parts of my days, it was all a blur sometimes. After it happened, people were attacked. I don't remember the day Luna was attacked at all!" Ginny wailed.
The doors opened and Madam Pomfrey came rushing in. "It'll be okay, Ginny," Harry consoled and hugged the crying girl. He faked a confused look at the healer.
"The diary… it had to be…" Ginny sobbed into his chest.
"Come away, dear," Madam Pomfrey ordered in a soft voice. "She needs rest now."
"But I did it! He needs to know it was me. He didn't have to be hated by all those students and sent to Azkaban to almost die!" Ginny yelled at Madam Pomfrey.
Harry saw Kingsley's face darken from the doorway as he locked eyes with Harry. Gently, he pulled Ginny off his chest and reassured her. "I believe you but you didn't do it on purpose. I will take it from here," Harry consoled and patted Ginny's back.
"You need to…" the redheaded girl started to say but Madam Pomfrey hit her with a non-verbal red spell. She slumped backward in the bed and her arm fell to one side.
"She needs rest. Thank you for bringing her to my attention, Harry. If she is this delusional then maybe she might have done harm to herself. They will get her back to normal at St. Mungo's."
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he stood. "She's like a sister to me, even if she isn't blood. Despite what Ron says, he cares about her too," he said more to himself than to the healer as he looked down at Ginny's crumpled form.