09 – Hagrid's Confession

Malfoy must have known he was being followed. He headed down corridors seemingly at random as Harry crept along behind him, unseen under the Invisibility Cloak. The material trailed along the floor with his silent footsteps. Harry had been following Draco for almost ten minutes; he had been reading in his dormitory instead of spending time with the other Gryffindors, when he spotted Draco on the Marauder's Map. It was too good a chance to miss.

Harry wasn't quite sure what drove him to leave the Common Room at first. He knew it was unlikely that he would catch Draco doing anything bad, but he was still a Death Eater and Harry knew he was behind all of these attacks. Harry wanted to catch Malfoy as soon as possible, to stop him from hurting anyone else. If he could just prove to Ron, Hermione, and Dumbledore that Draco was evil, they would finally quit thinking he was mad, so he wouldn't have to do any of this at all...

There was a noise from above; a door was being opened. They were on the fifth floor, about to climb up a staircase, but Draco turned around. Harry let him pass, moving sideways so they wouldn't collide, Draco stopped when they were close. For a moment it seemed as though he had felt Harry, perhaps sensing him or noticing the air change as he stepped aside. When the sound of footsteps continued on the stairs above him, however, Draco walked on.

He was stressed. He was nearly running, being as quiet as he could while Harry trailed along. Filch was close behind, but he was slow and couldn't hear nor see it when Draco slipped around a corner to hide. Harry watched for a minute or two as Filch hobbled past, grumbling all the way to Mrs Norris, who was close at his heels. She didn't sense the two students, luckily. Draco waited in silence for Filch's footsteps to fade before he got up once more.

He started going lower into the school. For a few minutes Harry believed he might be doing something more interesting down in the dungeons, but the more they walked the more obvious it became that Malfoy was heading back to the Slytherin Common Room. Harry felt disappointed, then confused about it. He had followed Draco to stop him attacking anyone, but he didn't even have to. Why, then, was he disappointed?

"Consecrate," Draco murmured, opening up the Slytherin Common Room.

Harry's heart leapt. He now knew the password to go and spy on Malfoy whenever he liked. He watched as Draco stepped through the wall in front of them, his mind racing to think what this changed.

"Don't follow him," a voice hissed from behind Harry.

It was Tom. He was standing against the wall of this corridor calmly. Again, the Cloak did nothing to stop him from seeing Harry.

"You won't get any sleep, at this rate."

"There are more important things going on," Harry responded. "Don't you understand how dangerous Malfoy is?"

"Draco has been this way all year. You cannot fall behind in your classes, for it would be most suspicious to those around you."

"He almost murdered two students already," Harry reminded him, "I have to find out more about this."

"How? By watching him sleep?"

"Maybe he'll tell some of the other Slytherins about what he's up to. Maybe -"

"Draco is not a fool. He has been clumsy, yes, but I believe this is from lack of care, above all. He is not foolish enough to give details openly to his fellow Slytherins about what he's up to – least of all when they're within earshot of the rest of their house. I understand you want information, yet this is not the correct approach."

"What do you suggest then?" Harry asked. "Dumbledore won't listen, Ron and Hermione think I'm mad and they haven't been the same around me – I haven't got a choice."

"Even if you were to listen into Draco's conversations, you would not find the information you need."

"I was thinking I... well, what if I talked to him?"

Tom tilted his head a little. "Directly?"

"Yeah. I mean, you remember how he was in the Room of Requirement, I've never seen him so stressed out – and for what? All of these attacks, all of his attempts to try and do whatever Voldemort's asked him to do... he's making it all pretty obvious. It's like – it's like he doesn't care, not for Voldemort, not for the students. Either he's more dangerous than anyone knows, or he doesn't want to do it."

Tom contemplated this for a moment, looking serious. "You think he would talk to you?"

"I – I dunno... I don't see what else I can do."

"You might scare him off. He might try to hurt you."

Harry didn't respond to this immediately. Some first year Slytherins were walking his way, to return to their Common Room.

"I know I might scare him," Harry said when the students vanished beyond the wall, "but what choice do I have?"

"Surely there's someone within Hogwarts who would believe what you say?" Tom suggested quietly. His gaze was fixed on Harry. "Someone else must be thinking along the same lines as you in some way, gathering information?"

"You're the only one who believes me. Not even Ron, or Hermione..."

"Is it not true that, only a few days ago, you described to me the confessions of Rubeus Hagrid, concerning a moment where he overheard Dumbledore and Snape discussing these attacks? From what you described, Rubeus appeared quite reluctant to elaborate upon how the discussion went..."

Harry's eyes widened. "You think he might know more about this?"

A soft smile crept upon Tom's face as he watched Harry's reaction. "I would like to know more about what he heard. It seems an important conversation, after all, and it is clear he trusts you."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "yeah, that makes sense. I dunno why I never thought of it; of course Hagrid will understand all of this!"

Harry felt joyful, sure of it now that Hagrid would have more information on Malfoy. It had been a while since Harry paid Hagrid a visit, and although this was due to tighter security in the Castle, Harry felt as though he might be able to slip outside if he was quick enough.

"We should go, now," Harry said, "I don't want to wait, Hagrid will surely be at his hut. C'mon!"

They headed up towards the Entrance Hall without pause. A few students were still returning from a day spent outside in the sunlight, which meant that it was easy for Harry to slip out unnoticed. He knew he wouldn't have much time until the castle was locked up, but he felt the risk was worth it for this.

The lights in Hagrid's hut were on. When Harry knocked, he could hear the clinking of bottles and the sound of a chair being pushed out from a table noisily, doubtlessly as Hagrid stood up. He pulled off the cloak just as the door was being opened.

"Harry?" Hagrid greeted in surprise, "What're yeh doin' here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," Harry said. "I wouldn't have risked coming down here, but it's important."

"Well, don' just stand there then, come in. Unless you wan' me ter lose me job, of course..."

Harry stepped into Hagrid's home, closely followed by Tom. As he closed the door, Harry recognised the smell of heavy booze. He was confused for a moment, wondering why Hagrid would be drinking so early, but Tom had a soft smile on his face as he watched Harry.

"Si' down," Hagrid offered, taking a chair heavily on one side of the table. "What it it yer wantin' ter ask me 'bout?"

Tom sat next to Hagrid, on a chair that was already drawn out enough so he didn't need to move it. Harry took a seat opposite Hagrid, averting his eyes from the boy only he could see.

"It's about the attacks up at the school," Harry said, wanting this conversation to get directly to the point, "I'm really worried about it."

"Tha's why yeh came down here so late?" Hagrid asked. "Yer could've visited me earlier, Harry, there's no use riskin' detention for tha' – the whole school's worried 'bout these attacks."

"I know, but I think I might have found something out," Harry said, "something important."

"Have yeh?"

Harry struggled to find the right way to begin his explanation. "I think it's Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Hagrid repeated. "I know yer don' like him, Harry, wha' with the Malfoy's hist'ry... but to accuse him of summat like tha'..."

Hagrid looked a bit concerned, shaking his head.

"Look, I know yer worried an' all, but yer have ter understand tha' the school'll be keepin' a close eye out for whoever's behin' all this. It won't be long now, I 'spect, 'till someone's caught."

"But Hagrid -"

"It's much like what happened with the Chamber of Secrets," Tom said softly. He had been watching Harry from across the table this whole conversation. "Remind him that."

"It," Harry began, unsure about it as he tore his eyes from Tom, "it's like what you said before... it's the Chamber of Secrets all over again. If we can't find out what's happening..."

Hagrid sighed a little, either because he believed this or because he was worried Harry that was getting carried away.

"Look," Harry began, "Dumbledore doesn't believe it's important, nor Ron or Hermione, or any of the Order, but I overheard Snape talking to Malfoy near Christmas. He was going on about how he made the Unbreakable Vow with Malfoy's mother – I don't know what it means, but it sounded as if Snape was trying to make Malfoy tell him what he's up to. I don't care who in particular is behind these attacks, but surely you understand how dangerous this all is?"

"Yer told Dumbledore this, didn't yeh?" Hagrid asked. "Tha's summat he needs to know, Harry."

"Yeah, I told him," Harry admitted, "but doesn't this prove Malfoy's up to something else?"

"Remind him that Dumbledore became angry with Snape."

"I dunno, Harry –"

"You said Dumbledore and Snape got into an argument," Harry said, taking Tom's advice again. "Didn't Dumbledore want Snape to watch over the Slytherin's more closely?"

"I – well, he – I told yer not ter read too much in'o it Harry, there's nothin' else to it!"

"I don't mean to," Harry said in a rush. "I just – I'm just worried."

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Hagrid looked guilty for having to keep telling Harry that he was making a big fuss out of something he understood affected the whole school greatly. Tom waited patiently and Harry attempted to follow his lead, seeing Hagrid sigh.

"Well... ter be 'onest... Dumbledore did say summat ter Snape abou' keepin' an eye on his 'young Slytherin friend' – but there's no reason ter worry 'bout that, Harry, if Dumbledore's already suspectin' that a student in Slytherin behind these attacks, surely enough it won't be long 'till they're caught."

This didn't settle Harry's confusion or worry. "What else else did Dumbledore say that night?" he pressed. "You said something about how Snape didn't want to do it anymore... what was he talking about?"

"I – I dunno... I still reckon it ws summat 'bout – 'bout Snape being overworked..."

"He's lying," Tom said placidly from next to Hagrid. "He's scared."

"Hagrid... do you know something?" Harry asked slowly.

Hagrid, who averted his eyes to a point just above Harry's head, didn't answer for a moment. His beard twitched a little, but Harry knew it had nothing to do with smiling. Hagrid's eyes were glazed. "It... it's hard ter remember what was said tha' night... it was quite a while ago now..."

"I'm not doing this because I care about who it is," Harry told him calmly, "I just want them to be stopped. There's something going on up at the castle, everyone knows it, and the more information we have, the sooner we can find out who's behind all of this."

"Dumbledore'll sor' it out, Harry."

"Dumbledore hasn't been listening. I told him everything I know, but he – are you alright?"

Hagrid gave a great sniff and attempted to sit up a little more. Harry watched him closely, bewildered. Huge tears were leaking out over Hagrid's bearded face, while he attempted to brush them away shakily.

"Hagrid?"

"Alrigh'," Hagrid said shakily, "I know ther's more ter this than I first a'mitted..."

"What's happened?"

"I – I reckon heard more than I should've," Hagrid said, his voice more strained than ever. It occurred to Harry that there must have been a reason for why Hagrid was drinking so early. "Ter put it ligh'ly, Dumbledore ain't well."

"How isn't he?"

"I reckon he – well, I might've heard it all wrong, mind... The point is, I don' think tha' – tha' things'll always be how they used ter be with Dumbledore..."

Tom was looking at Hagrid now. Harry barely noticed.

"What did he say to Snape, Hagrid?"

"He – well, he –"

Hagrid gave a great sob. More tears were streaming down his face as he clutched a goblet in his hand so tightly that it was starting to bend out of shape.

"All righ', I'll tell yeh," Hagrid said roughly, crying heavily all the while, "I can't keep it to meself much longer anyway... Dumbeldore, he... well, he s-said 'bout summat about when - when 'after he's been killed'... he got in'errupted by Snape say-saying he didn't want to do it anymore, that he might have – have changed his mind. I dunno what it means Harry, I – I dunno..."

Hagrid's words were cut short as he began sobbing uncontrollably, leaning forward to bury his face in his hands.

"Hagrid," Harry said seriously, "You can't mean... you can't mean Dumbledore's going to die?"

"I shouldn't have said tha'," Hagrid croaked, appearing even more distressed at the idea. "I'm sorry Harry, it ain't fair on yeh... Yeh can't tell no one, Harry..."

Harry was in shock. All he could do was stare at Hagrid, a sickening sensation washing over him as he hoped, so deeply while this terrified him, that Hagrid might be mistaken. He felt dizzy, as if none of his surroundings were real at all. It didn't help when Tom tore his gaze from Hagrid to stare at Harry once more. There was a look of mad happiness in his wide, wild eyes, but nowhere else. Harry was in no state to make sense of it.

"I – I should go," Harry managed, standing up. His hands were shaking but he tried to hide it. Tom stood too. "It's alright Hagrid..."

Hagrid might not have heard him. He continued crying where he sat; Harry couldn't help him. He was leaving Hagrid's hut before he knew it, throwing the Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders before he stepped outside. He neither spoke to nor looked around for Tom as he headed up towards the castle. The door was still open. He might have been relieved, but he didn't even notice. He was heading up flights of stairs blindly, wanting nothing else but to get to his dormitory.

He took off the Invisibility Cloak and stuffed it in his pocket on his way into the Common Room. It was full of students enjoying the freedom of Friday night, talking loudly and happily about things Harry had no interest in hearing. He wanted to go and hide in his dormitory, to not speak to anyone.

"Harry," Hermione called from a chair nearby.

She was on her own. Harry's heart sank, but guilt captured him too. She looked a bit down on her own, doing nothing but reading, while Ron was occupied by Lavender across the room. Harry didn't know how much more he could take; he wanted to comfort Hermione, but he couldn't take what he had just learnt...

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked him, sounding concerned. From her expression, he could tell she knew he wasn't feeling well at all.

"I – yeah, I'm fine..."

"Where were you?"

"I..."

"What's happened?"

Her tone was serious and more worried than ever, but all Harry could do was shake his head.

"Harry -"

"I just want to go to bed," he told her. "I'm sorry..."

He turned away from her, embarrassed as he felt a lump in his throat forming. He ignored the crowds of people around him, not looking up at anyone. To his relief, the dormitory was quiet and empty. He stood for a minute, unsure what he should do with himself. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a reflection of Tom entering the room. He didn't look up, but at his presence Harry couldn't take it. He turned to anger, as if to run from sorrow.

"He's a liar!" Harry shouted, not caring that his voice was too loud. "Dumbledore, he – he's a complete fool!"

Tom said nothing. His footsteps slowed before he came to a stop, examining Harry form afar.

"What could be possibly be playing at?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. "He knows it's Malfoy! He knows something is going on, but he won't do a thing about it!"

"He must have a reason," Tom said quietly.

"Like what? He knows about Snape too, but he didn't listen to what I said about the Unbreakable Vow!"

"That is quite peculiar."

"Does he not realise what the Vow meant? If he knows what Malfoy's up to – He's a fucking fool!"

"Well," Tom said, leaning against a post of Ron's bed, "apparently we won't have to suffer his idiocy for long."

Harry glowered at him. Tom appeared confused, forcing Harry to look away.

"Do you not wish for Dumbledore to die?"

"I – of course I don't!"

Tom's head was tilted to the side. "Why, then, are you angry with him?"

"I'm not – I don't –"

Harry couldn't explain. His eyes were burning. He turned away from Tom for a moment, running his hand through his hair roughly as he took a seat on the end of his bed. He wasn't going to cry, not now. He kept reminding himself again and again, as he buried his face in his hands, that Hagrid could have heard Dumbledore wrong, he could have been mistaken. The thought ran through his mind so many times that it started to lose it's meaning, sounding like a dull rhythm.

"Why don't Dumbledore listen to me?" Harry asked in frustration, not truly expecting an answer. "If he knows something is going to happen to him, if he isn't well and he expects to be killed, then..."

He drifted off, staring unseeingly at the floor as realisation dawned upon him.

"Malfoy..." he murmured in a shaky voice. "He's going to kill Dumbledore..."

As the words left his mouth, Harry felt a paralysing sense of shock and disbelief weighing upon him. He couldn't breathe normally, he couldn't think.

"The poison," he whispered, "the cursed necklace... they were all going to Dumbledore, weren't they?"

Tom appeared only a little affected by all of this; he was more sombre than usual. He inclined his head in wordless agreement.

"Why won't he stop Malfoy?" Harry asked, trying to hide his despairing tone. "There's enough evidence – he has the Dark Mark! Maybe if I tell Dumbledore about the Room of Req-"

"No."

Tom appeared calm, but his voice was forceful.

"Why not?" Harry asked. "He needs to know before it's too late!"

"I don't believe there is enough evidence. The Dark Mark alone proves very little, after all."

"It proves he's a Death Eater!"

"To Dumbledore, perhaps," Tom said, "and to those who recognise the mark like Snape, or some other Order members. Yet we don't know what Draco is doing. I believe that, most likely, Dumbledore is perfectly aware of what's going on."

"Then why isn't he doing anything?" Harry asked, his voice annoyed and panicked.

"Fewer will believe Draco is working for the Dark Lord if we do not wait until we have more evidence."

This didn't make sense to Harry in the least, but be refrained from saying this as a greater problem crossed his mind. "The longer we wait, the more Dumbledore is at risk – along with everyone else!"

"I know," Tom said softly, "but I don't believe there is much you can do at the moment."

Harry wished this wasn't so. His fingers were curled into claws as he ran his hands through his hair again, sitting forwards on his bed. He didn't know how to deal with any of this. He couldn't believe that any of this was actually happening...

"You're tired," Tom commented. "I must apologise, for it is I who is to be blamed for this."

"How?" Harry asked in a muffled voice, rubbing his face with his hands.

"I've been with you for a while, since you began following Draco. It takes up our energy to be visible for that long."

Harry looked up. It suddenly occurred to him how odd it was that Tom was able to sit in Hagrid's Hut with him without being seen, and that the first year Slytherins and Malfoy hadn't seen him either.

"What are you?" Harry asked.

"A wizard," Tom answered once more, smiling.

This managed to annoy Harry. "Well, if you're taking up all my energy... maybe you should go."

Tom didn't seem to mind. "If you wish."

Harry was unable to stop his expression from showing irritation and impatience.

"Before I leave, however, I would like to remind you of one thing."

"Yeah?"

"If something is going on between Dumbledore and Malfoy, concerning Snape too in some way, I hope you understand that you won't stand a chance protecting your thoughts from your Professors. It is dangerous that you know these secrets... I stress, for what will not have been the first time, that you continue to read the books I gave you. Knowledge is, in times like this, your only protection."

Tom's gaze was serious. Harry, despite still being full of anger and sorrow, felt a surge of fear at the things Tom suggested. He had no idea what Dumbledore was up to, but Snape, more than anything, worried Harry. He had made the Unbreakable Vow to help Malfoy in some way, after promising Draco's mother that he would... If he read Harry's mind now, to see what he was thinking, a whole number of bad things could happen...

What troubled Harry next, and most of all, was that the books Tom had given him were not only full of twisted, dark magic, but were vastly complex, to the point where Harry had to read sentences again and again just to find their meaning. Occlumency and Legilimency weren't quite as sinister as other subjects, but they definitely were amongst the most difficult pieces of magic Harry had seen...

"Goodnight," Tom said, standing up straighter. "Follow my advice and have a good rest; you need it."

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but as soon as he blinked, Tom was gone.

He was left alone, and not for the first time, with nothing but the books hidden beneath his bed as company. The moment Tom disappeared, Harry began to cry.