Harry Potter wouldn't have ordinarily convened any sort of Council of War with Ronald Weasley present, but, well, his friend Hermione and he, together, had about a teaspoonful of knowledge about the Wizarding World. And so Harry resolved to sit down with them and ask quite a few questions. Because the Gryffindor common room was uncommonly noisy, they wound up at a secluded table in the library.

"I spoke with the Headmaster today," Harry Potter started out.

"Harry! What did you say?!" Hermione Granger said, looking a strange mix of alarmed and excited.

"I told him I'd just as soon leave Hogwarts." Harry Potter responded.

"Cor! You can't just leave, Harry!" Ron said, scandalized.

"What about your education?" Hermione said firmly, "You wouldn't know anything!"

"I could enroll in another school, you realize." Harry put in firmly.

"But Hogwarts is the best school in England!" Hermione said emphatically.

"I wasn't thinking England. Maybe a nice wide ocean between myself and my would-be murderer would be enough disincentive." Harry said wryly.

"Ha-aarry! We'd, - you just can't!" Hermione said, and Harry reflected that he hadn't expected she'd be this broken up about it.

"Apparently you're right, Dumbledore is my magical guardian, and he claims that I'm safest here."

"Hogwarts is pretty safe," Ron put in, "Hasn't fallen ever, and there's been quite a few wars since it was built."

"Safe if it's a war you're afraid of..." Harry said, thinking, "Do you think Dumbledore might be expecting a war?"

"I don't know..." Ron said.

Hermione sat up straight, "It certainly hasn't protected you from you-know-who..."

Ron said, "Innit he dead?"

Harry responded, with a roll of his eyes, "No, the other you know who. The one I maintain is you know not doing you-know-what."

Hermione nodded, but Ron still looked uncomprehending. She leaned into his ear and whispered something, and he said, "Oi! Yeah, the greasy git!"

"I heard something funny, too, while I was talking with Dumbledore." Harry said, "No one is officially investigating what happened."

"They didn't call the police?" Hermione said, scandalized.

"The what?" Ron said, confused.

"The - " Harry began gesturing furiously, and Hermione eventually broke in, "He means the Aurors."

"Why would they? It happened at school." Ron said firmly.

"Isn't it normal for an Auror to investigate serious crimes?" Harry said, fighting back the "and misdemeanors."

"Dumbledore's got to have someone looking into it." Hermione said.

"I asked. The leads are dead, all of them." Harry said firmly.

"Then what's to stop it from happening again?" Hermione said, looking truly alarmed, "Maybe you should leave, just for a little..."

"I do know one thing," Harry said, "I hope it's not the bat, because if it is, I'm truly dead meat."

Ron, perhaps not comprehending the situation fully, nodded, "Yeah, you saw what happened when the duffer Longbottom blew up his potion last week. The speed of his draw!"

"Ronald!" Hermione said crossly.

"He's just being realistic. I prefer that, actually." Harry said firmly.

So it wasn't completely out of this world objectionable that no one from the Ministry was investigating... Hmm... Harry thought, I have to think what I can try, as there are a lot of options. I wonder if anyone outside the school knows what happened? Other than Lucius Malfoy, that is...

[a/n: Second post of the day.

Yes, Snape was serious about burying Harry's body.

Things should get ... more interesting from here.]