Chapter 6—Why always Me?
The Deatheaters appeared blocking our escape. They were in front of us and the wards were at our back, a very effective trap.
"Daphne come back." I screamed as she charged the Deatheaters. She was throwing every lethal curse she knew at them while screaming insults and threats at the same time. She only made it a few feet before she was hit with a couple of curses. I transformed and flashed to her. Grabbing her I flamed out amid a dozen curses. We were lucky, they missed.
/Scene Break/
Madam Pomfrey was just getting ready for the rest of the evening. Curfew was in effect so rarely did the students need her this late in the evening. The appearance of a phoenix with Daphne Greengrass took her by surprise. One wave of the wand told here this girl was in serious condition. Her second wave put Daphne is stasis as the two were headed to St. Mungo's. By the time Harry had reverted to human form he was left standing in front of the password locked 'floe' in shock.
/Scene Break/
I was stomping to Professor McGonagall quarters with more than one thing on my mind. Daphne was hurt, but why did she charge the Deatheaters? Charging them was like a death wish and she had to know we could flame out of there. There was of course the major worry, how was Daphne, how hurt was she?
"Sorry to bother Professor but Daphne Greengrass has been injured and has been taken to St. Mungo. Could you inform her father? I will be heading to St. Mungo immediately."
"I'm not sure we can provide security for you on so short notice?"
"That's fine professor just do what you must." I turned and walked down the hall. As soon as I was out of sight I flamed to St. Mungo's.
/Scene Break/
Like all hospitals it was wait and wait and maybe someone would come in and say something you don't dread. Soon Mr. Greengrass and his wife appeared asking questions.
"Any word?"
"No Sir but I'm hoping to hear something any minute. They must know something by now."
It was hard explaining how Daphne got hurt as what we were doing wasn't really our job. "Sir I just don't know what came over her? She just charged at them cursing and yelling."
"Harry she has been acting strange since our house got attacked by Deatheaters. Her letters have been off, it's just not like Daphne." Mr. Greengrass stated.
"Around the edges everyone has worries but fear and hate that is just not our Daphne." Mrs. Greengrass added.
Just then doors opened from both ends of the room. One side had the doctor and the other was Dumbledore, McGonagall, Tonks and Remus. The doctor said that Daphne would be fine but before he could say much more Dumbledore and crowd dragged me back to Hogwarts. Since it was so late they escorted me to my bed and ordered me not to leave. I figured I would be in the Headmasters office first thing in the morning. I 'flamed' away to Godric's Hollow.
/Scene Break/
Breakfast came and went and no summons to the Headmasters office. By noon I was confused as by now I should have been called. Then things started down hill at a faster rate a brown owl flew into the Great Hall and dropped two letters and fled. I pick up the one with Daphne's hand writing. It was a nice "dear john" letter stating that the feelings were not there. Then it got weird. She went off saying that since I didn't want to end the war I didn't have the makings of a real husband. She seemed to feel that I was lacking because I wouldn't kill all the Deatheaters that we found. At least that how I took what was in the letter. She finally stated that she did not wish to see me ever again.
I sat there with several emotions and possible actions racing around my brain. Everything from emotional loss to racing to her and pleading for her to reconsider.
"What have you got there Harry mind if I see?" Hermione with Ron was something that I didn't need right then. She reached over to grab the letter in my hand and was shocked when I backhanded her hand away from the letter. While she started a rant, "If you didn't want me to see it you just had to say so!"
"Yea, a bit rough there Harry." Ron added. I got up and moved further down the table. Putting Daphne's letter in my pocket I opened the other letter. Mr. Greengrass was politically polite in that the canceled contract was enclosed and that Daphne would not be returning to Hogwarts for the rest of the year. Daphne would be spending her time in Switzerland and by the way the bride price would be kept for medical expenses. They had sent Daphne to a Swiss rest home. Reading between the lines it was more likely a mental hospital.
"Harry if its bad news you shouldn't run away from us we just want to help." Hermione was again back next to me. I got up and started to leave the Great Hall when I got all I needed to make this a great lunch period. "Hay Scarhead where is your slut at? Run off with Weasel I'll bet."
"Draco just get out of my way before you and your goons get hurt."
"Don't you know who you are talking to you halfblood mudblood lover."
By now the teachers should have intervened but no luck. My next verbal statement would draw in bat-boy Snape and point deductions but I really didn't care. Right now I would enjoy kicking anyone's ass down the hall and out the door. "Malfoy your one to talk, Father in Azkaban for being a Voldemort ass kisser and you sound like you can't wait to join him. So why don't you toddle off and practice ass kissing with your butt boys and leave me alone." This of course was said in a loud voice in a hall full of students and teachers, Draco of course went for his wand.
"I'll save the Dark Lord the problems, die Potter!"
The wide blasting curse sent Draco and his two goons flying. Their sudden stop colliding on the oak doors of the Great Hall was stunning. While they were trying to shake their heads clear I banished Draco's sleeve exposing his arm and the Death Mark. Gasps went up across the hall as the Dark Mark was exposed.
"Mr. Potter you will report to my office immediately!" Dumbledore roared in anger.
"Professor McGonagall are you free?" I asked expecting Dumbledore to curse me for asking but I just couldn't pass up sticking it to the Headmaster.
One of the first rules of self-defense is take the weapon from the bad guy. I didn't take Draco's wand so I got to hear 'Diffindo' yelled behind my back. I rolled away from the curse and sent an over powered 'Expelliarmus' at Draco. Unfortunately it was an anger induced and over powered spell. Draco only flew a few feet but the crunch could be heard throughout the hall. Madam Pomfrey had another patient in her hospital wing.
/Scene Break/
As Professor McGonagall and I entered the Headmasters office we saw my good buddy Snape was in attendance.
"We are awaiting the arrival of a few people so just relax, lemon drop anyone?" Moments later Fudge came through followed by Madam Bones.
"Bad business Dumbledore, we can't have students sending other students to the hospital. I am afraid Potter will have to stand trial." About that time two Aurors came through the 'floe'.
"Now Cornelius are you not over reacting just a bit?"
"No Dumbledore he must stand trial."
"I think not Cornelius; you have overstepped yourself once again." I attempted one of the pureblood sneers.
"You will address me as Minister Fudge you little snot."
"When you address me as Lord Potter Black Cornelius I might allow you to ask me what happened before you make a bigger fool of yourself that your daily baboonery."
"Harry you are not yet a lord and…" I cut off Dumbledore, "While you were mucking up discipline in this school I got emancipated and I am indeed Lord Potter Black. Now let us discuss my attack by a Deatheater here in this school."
About this time Madam Bones jumped in, "Lord Potter you say a Deatheater, HERE?"
"Yes the entire hall saw his mark when I exposed his arm. That is the back cursing student that Cornelius wants me to stand trial over? Gee I may have hurt the poor sod while defending myself."
"Then Potter will stand trial as an adult attacking a minor." Fudge yelled.
"I think not Minister the DMLE will not be arresting him so you will have no one to send to the Wizengemot. Pushing a trial will cost you more than your office if you persist Minister."
Professor McGonagall escorted me out of the office about the time Madam Bones growled, "And why was I not informed of this Deatheater in the school Headmaster?"
/Scene Break/
I skipped dinner for a number of reasons. Seeing Hermione and the rest I was not up to. I had lost my appetite and I wanted to reread the letters. Depression was hanging around me like a cloud. It must have been obvious to Hedwig and Tiger as they stayed close to me even when I went to bed fully dressed. Sleep finally took me but it was a disturbed sleep. The dream started with three very old women who predated the gods of old. They seemed to decide even the fates of the gods who dared not mess with the three old crones. It was becoming clear they were called the Fates who had subtle but awesome powers over man's destiny. They were called Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses the lot in life one will have and its length. Atropos has her shears and cuts the thread of life at death.
I suddenly woke up and in the dim light I saw Dumbledore hovering over me but then I realized I was fooled by the long white beard, this was not Dumbledore. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"I am Xenophon the gentleman-soldier of the Persian Achaemenid court and I have been sent to escort you to meet a few people. You may call me Xeno Sir Harry."
"Huh?" I got out of bed as I reached for my wand.
"Yes you will need your wand, trunk and your familiars. The wand is of no use to you against I a magi but fear not as I am but an authority for religious matters and responsible for the education of the emperor-to-be."
I tried a 'lumos' and got nothing so I figured I was in trouble or he was ok, besides I was curious. Not every old man could wander into Hogwarts in the middle of the night and cause wands to malfunction. This Xeno had even silenced Ron's snoring which was in itself endearing. Tiger hadn't transformed nor had Hedwig become upset so this guy was most likely not a threat. As I stood up Tiger latched onto my robe and Hedwig landed on my shoulder. If they were ready to go who was I to argue?
"Now if you will touch your trunk."
What can I say, we disappeared?