2 – Murder
Back at Hogwarts, there was a festive air at the stadium in front of the Maze. Fleur Delacour of Beauxbattons Academy had been eliminated almost two hours earlier. The veela had been sucked into the hedges, and to all appearances, managed to shoot up a distress flare before being overwhelmed. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang, had no memory of sending a distress flare but he was pulled out minutes ago and still only semi-conscious.
"Just Harry and Diggory left!" exclaimed Ron Weasley "No matter what Hogwarts wins!"
Next to him, Hermione Granger yelled "Come on Harry!" Ginny Weasley, in the row behind them, echoed her turning it into a chant that soon filled the Gryffindor section. A stuffed badger flew in, hitting Ginny square in the face. The Third Year girl caught it, and flung it back. The whole thing quickly escalated completely beyond the Staff's control efforts. Stuffed animals, bits of food and drink, even a few harmless hexes.
The Stuffed Animal War had burned itself out. The whole stadium was a mass of laughing kids. Justin Finch-Fletchley strutted over and half-bowed to Ginny "I wanted to apologize, Miss Weasley." he said gallantly "You see I was aiming for Granger here. Normally I'm much more accurate." He presented the very badger that started it all to her and departed.
"He was sweet." Ginny gushed.
Hermione had a decidely mixed reaction. Fury at having been the intended target, warred with exhiliration at the fun fight and amusement at her friend's reaction.
"Gormless git!" there was no doubt of Ron's opinion of their year-mate from across the aisle. His hostility only soared as the Hufflepuff was seen to wink. His sister's giggling drove him out of his seat, but Hermione pushed him back down.
The festive mood was interrupted by a flash of light. The band leader right near the front instantly recognized Harry and ordered up the Victory tune. Quite cheery in its own right, the crowd eagerly took up the tune. Hufflepuffs were a bit dissappointed to not see Cedric, most of the Slytherins flatly refused to cheer Harry, though a few did. An uproar came from the Gryffindor section. Then everything went wrong.
Harry, hailed as a hero, his face twisted into an evil sneer. He pulled his wand, pointed it down. It was only then that those in the front noticed the still form under him. The Beauxbattons champion emitted a shrill scream. The-Boy-Who-Lived screamed at the top of his lungs "ETERNAL GLORY! AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green glow of the Unforgivable enveloped Cedric and everyone knew the Hufflepuff Champion lived no more. Amos Diggory, who had been pushing through the crowd, now just shoved people aside regardless. He hatefully grabbed his son's murderer, threw him down and began savagely kicking Harry, shouting incoherently. Little, if any, notice was taken of the lack of response from Harry.
"Dumbledore!" Minister Fudge shouted "We have to get everyone away from here! The body! We can't!"
Aurors pulled the grieving father away from his assault and lifted Harry to his feet. His glasses were shattered and the frames twisted. Blood dripped from his arm. A competent investigator would have easily concluded that only a knife (not present) could have caused that wound.
"Poppy, please see to Harry's injuries." the Headmaster ordered, quietly.
The senior Diggory surged forward "Dumbledore!" he shouted "You moron! I want that murderer thrown through The Veil! He doesn't need to be coddled!"
"Amos, young Harry is still a Hogwarts student." Dumbledore replied quietly "He will be treated as such until otherwise decided. And right now he requires medical attention. Which, apparently you caused, I remind you."
Infuriated by the rebuke, Amos countered "If you hadn't stopped me, he wouldn't need any treatment but a funeral!"
"Amos, perhaps your family needs you now, more than anything else." said Dumbledore, his tone cold and commanding "I assure you the matter will be fully investigated."
x x x x x x x x x x x
Harry's injuries were treated, fully assumed to be the result of Amos Diggory's aggrieved attack. And he slept during the next couple of days. Meanwhile, the Judges of the TriWizard Tournement ruled Cedric Diggory the posthumous winner and presented the prize money to his father at the solemn occasion of the Champion's funeral. Dumbledore's speech made absolutely no reference to what everyone had seen. The Headmaster praised the deceased as a heroic personalty, a fierce friend and hard worker.
Out of sight, meant out of mind. Susan Bones had given no thought to Harry Potter in the last two days. He was an acquaintance. They'd worked on a couple of projects over the last four years. Potions, DADA, Herbology. By Second Year, most everyone had worked with everyone else at least once. But, right now, her concern was about her family. Of which, Cedric was a closer member than blood really indicated. Looking at the pureblood rolls, they were third cousins once removed. But, they lived on the same street not even a five minute walk from each other. Cedric was her big brother. Now he was dead. She wasn't close enough to hear, or see. So, didn't know what to make of the charges against The Boy Who Lived.
x x x x x x x x x x x
The evening after Cedric's funeral, Harry awoke delerious "Voldemort! He's back!" the teen babbled "Madam Pomfrey! Get Dumbledore!"
The response was not at all what he expected. An auror burst into the hospital ward, wand drawn fired "Incarcerous!"
"Lemme go!" Harry demanded "I need to see Dumbledore."
The black-uniformed man yanked the tied up teen off the floor one-handed and tossed him back to his bed "Lay there and keep quiet or you'll regret it!" he snarled.
"Wha'd'duh bloody'ell happened?" queried Harry. But being thrown across the room and slammed down robbed his weakened body of consciousness.
x x x x x x x x x x x
"I can't believe you, of all people, defending him!" Hannah Abbott, a blond Housemate and longtime friend of Susan Bones exclaimed. They were sitting alone in a cabin on the Hogwarts train.
The redhead rolled her eyes. Her position, voiced at the Leaving Breakfast, left her abandoned by most of her House. She didn't wish to alienate her lifelong friend. "His name is Harry." she pointed out "Remember, the boy we all falsely accused of being the Heir of Slytherin. But, he saved Ginny Weasley from a basilisk. A BASILISK! Han, he was twelve."
"The difference this time," Hannah countered "is that, this time it happened in front of thousands of witnesses."
Susan shrugged "I didn't see it, Han. I was thirty rows back and behind Justin at the time. And you know how bloody tall he is. I don't reach his belly button."
"Not a bad place to be, Suz." Hannah giggled and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Susan sighed impatiently and said "So not my type. Anyway, off topic."
"Right, we've been friends since the cradle." the blond began "Have I ever lied to you?"
The red shook her head.
"Remember, I was sitting with Kevin Cadwallader. Row 6. I saw two things. Potter appearing, his foot on Cedric. Him shouting the Killing Curse and Ced dying." she teared up as she spoke "Now, they'll probably call me as a witness. And I can only testify to exactly what I saw."
Susan released a ragged breath and nodded "I know and no one can fault you for that. I won't. You always are, and always will be, my friend. But, it's also true that we live in the Magical World and things are not what they always seem to be. I don't think Harry did this."
"Alright Auror Bones" Hannah retorted, rather sarcastically "I'll listen. Present your evidence, even your guesses. Prove to me he's innocent."
Susan simultaneously frowned and smiled. She admitted "Honestly... I can't... I believe every word you said. Even more than what some other witness might say in court. But I know my gut tells me something is very wrong."
"Thanks for the compliment." Hannah said with a pleased blush. It faded as quickly as it appeared "But, really the only wrong I can see is the empty seat in Seventh Year."
Susan had no reply to that. The pair fell into a sad silence.
x x x x x x x x x x x
By the time the Train arrived at King's Cross night had fallen in London. Hannah quickly spotted her older sister, who convenietly was talking to her friend's Aunt. The girls hugged their relatives then each other.
"One second, Auntie." Susan said, after the Abbotts departed. She spotted two-thirds of the famous Trio. They weren't talking so she approached "Ron, Hermione, have you been able to see Harry?"
Hermione glared at her and said, harshly "Not interested!"
"If you're looking for something on Harry, you can forget it Bones!" was Ron's response. He crossed his arms and ignored her in favor of staring at Hermione.
It was obvious to Susan she walked into something that wasn't her concern. Nor did she really want to know. More, she saw Weasleys approaching. And Muggles who from their appearance, she guessed, were the Grangers. She would have excused herself, but didn't see any reason. No one would notice.
"I see lines are being drawn." Amelia Bones observed. "And, rumor has it you've not taken the popular position. Why don't we chat?"
Susan sighed "Auntie, it's not about whether I think he's innocent, or not. I read lots of the trial records and they played fast and loose with the law then. Black's trial and ...umm... what was his name, the son of the Games Department head? Both were pretty rushed."
"There was a great deal of fear and anger back then, Suzy." Amelia explained "It is possible that some trials were... err ...shorter than they should be. But, what do you ...forget about a trial... what is your opinion?"
Less sure of herself in front of her Aunt, Susan blushed and looked away. But after some encouragement she explained "You know things are. Everyone knows everyone. I wouldn't call myself Harry Potter's best friend, but nine months for the last four years I spent half the day in the same room with him. Every subject. Harry Potter is hot-tempered, moody and occasionally mean. Like to Parvati Patil at the Ball. But he is also kind, noble and totally trustworthy."
"You mean he's not perfect?" asked Amelia, with a teasing lilt. Ginny Weasley wasn't the only redheaded witch who'd had a crush on The -Boy-Who-Lived.
Susan didn't often glare at her but this was an occasion "AUNTIE! Don't ask me how, but the Harry I've been in school with- he did not kill Ced. I know it...well... in my bones."
"Interesting turn of phrase." Amelia chuckled "I will investigate as fully and completely as I can. Even unofficially. Even beyond a trial, assuming I get help. Your opinion means alot to me. But I hope you realize...evidence, witnesses... they are all stacked against him. Logically ...dear... you're wrong."
Susan was quite aware of how her argument sounded. "I know." she admitted.