AntiBush: I think a lot of people care about Cho in cannon. I think that she will appear again. It was something that JK said in an interview long ago, when asked why Harry and Cho could not end up together, and she said "It just wasn't going to work out between them, be glad it ended when it did." Besides if there is something in the world that I don't want to happen, it always does.
Froggie2: I know that I said that this is where Harry and Fiona break up, but I messed up. I promise soon if it's the last thing that I do, I just need a little more time. Next chapter I'm sure.
Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews, I can't tell each of you how grateful I am. I don't think I'll be able to finish, but I'll do as much as I can before I have to quit. Sadly like my life, I think my story is disintegrating because of my lack of talent… it's getting worse, but I'll do my best.
Dumbledore is one of my favorite characters, probably second after Cho, but in this chapter, I wanted to show that even though he is the greatest Wizard there is, he is not immune from making mistakes, and sometimes in a certain situation, the best people can panic, and use poor judgment. Maybe even Doctors, whom I revere. This is not meant to be a filler chapter, so you will notice that my story, like my life, is getting worse. I'm very sorry, and will try to do better next time.:(
Chapter 57: Dumbledore's Mistake
Harry, Dumbledore and the other two professors walked down several flights of stairs, at a quick pace with Snape urging them on constantly, but not explaining the situation any further. At one point a set of staircases started to change, but with a quick flick of his wand and a short incantation Snape brought it back into place. The four of them continued down a few more flights of stairs and then through several corridors until they reached the potions lab. Snape said that he needed to retrieve something important from the room, and asked Dumbledore to come in for a moment to speak with him privately while he did so. Dumbledore obliged, and Snape closed the door behind them. Harry stood out side the door with Professor McGonagall, who was sobbing quietly, and drying her eyes with a hanky.
"Professor McGonagall, what is it? What has happened to Padma?" Harry asked nervously." This is the first time that he had ever seen her cry, and he believed her to be a strong woman, who was not shaken easily, so the situation had to be bad. Harry reflected on his dream from previous nights remembering how bad it might be. Professor McGonagall looked at him with lowered eyes.
"She was… were not even sure that it is Miss Patel… we can't identify the body." She said is a whisper, as if afraid to say it out loud. Harry was about to question her further, when Dumbledore and Snape returned from the potions lab, with Snape carrying a small green bottle of something, which he put into his pocket. Dumbledore turned to Harry and McGonagall, and then back to Snape.
"We must hurry, Severus, please lead the way." Dumbledore said. Professor Snape walked quickly down the corridor, eventually they came across several other flights of stairs, and more corridors until Harry sensed that they were deep within the dungeons of Hogwarts. As they continued on Harry started to notice a light trace of a familiar stench that caused his nose to wrinkle a bit. Still further they pressed on, and soon the foul odor grew worse causing Harry to choke. At one point they passed some first and second years heading the opposite direction. They had pulled their sweaters over their noses, to avoid the stench. Finally the four companions had turned a final corner into the storage area, and Snape came to a halt, with the others following suit. Snape reached into his pocket, and produced the small green bottle. Snape tilted it down and ran his fingers over the top, allowing the green pasty fluid to spill over them, and then smeared the past under his nose, and handed it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore and McGonagall did the same, when they were handed the green bottle, as did Harry when it was passed to him. The smell was not pleasant, but it was more tolerable than the stench in the corridor, and largely blocked it out. The next moment they were all on their way again.
Finally Harry and the masters reached a spacious open room with a high ceiling and three other corridors that led out in different directions. The room was filled with a few students with worried faces, and sweaters pulled over their noses. At the entrance of the Northern most corridor, an enraged Allen Miller was trying to push into the corridor with Professor Pinefield holding him back to the best of her ability.
"Let me through, damn you! I have to know if it's her! Don't you understand… I have to know!" Miller shouted. His tone was filled with anger, but Harry noticed tears streaming from his eyes.
"Mr. Miller, what's the meaning of this?" Snape shouted at him. Miller turned to Snape with a pleading look in his watery eyes.
"Professor, they… they think that they found her. My girlfriend Padma... they think that… They won't let me know… but… I have to know." Miller sobbingly pleaded. Snape looked around at the other students some of whom were also crying, and then turned back to Professor Sprout and Pinefield with an angry glance.
"Professor Pinefield, Professor Sprout, what is going on here? Why are these students here?" Snape shouted bitterly, his nostrils flaring. The two Professors looked at each other nervously, and then back at Snape.
"Well the students were concerned, and we aren't fully aware of what's going on…" Professor Sprout started, but Snape cut her off.
"I'll tell you what's going on! There has been a student Murdered." Snape continued, as students within ear shot gasped in horror. Take these students to their respective houses, and…"
"Please excuse me Severis, but I think that proper thing to do would be to assemble the students in the Great Hall. We need to do a head count to make sure that all students are accounted for." Dumbledore spoke for the first time upon coming on the scene, a grim look on his face. Snape nodded, and stood silently awaiting his next instructions. Dumbledore then glanced over to Professor McGonagall had stopped crying, but a grim look was still set in her face.
"Professor McGonagall, please escort these children to the Great Hall. Professor Pinefield, please go and assayable the prefects and have them go to the various classes still in session, and inform the respective masters and students that classes are canceled, and they should all assembled in the Great Hall." Dumbledore calmly advised.
"I'm not leaving. I'm going in there. I have to see if…" Miller started, but choked on his words.
"You'll do what you're told boy. Assemble with the other students; you don't need to see anything, besides you couldn't possibly tell if it's her anyway, not until we get a head count and see if there are any other students missing. Now go." Snape demanded. Miller shook his head defiantly.
"I'm not… cough… leaving, and what do you… cough mean I wouldn't be able to tell it's her?" Miller said bitterly.
"It's none of your concern Mr. Miller. Now go to the great hall with the others or you'll be in detention for the rest of the year." Snape said in an irritated tone. Miller looked like he was about to explode, but he took a moment to keep his composure as he spoke.
"I don't care what you do to me. I'm not… cough leaving until I find out if my girlfriend is in there. I can't bear not knowing. I haven't been able to sleep or study or anything else. I need to know one way or the other. So if you want to put me in detention… gasp… or expel me, than do what you have to, because I'm not going anywhere." Miller said defiantly. Snape moved toward Miller, and was about to shout at him, but Dumbledore quickly motioned him to wait.
"We don't want to do any such thing Mr. Miller. And I do understand. But you cannot go in there. However… if you will wait here, with Mr. Potter I promise you that we will let you know if it is indeed her. But we have to know… will you be ready to take the news if it is her?" Dumbledore asked. Miller lowered his eyes for a moment and then looked up again at the Head Master.
"Yes." He said weakly. Dumbledore nodded.
"Very well Mr. Miller. Wait here with Harry… err I mean Mr. Potter. Professor Snape, if you would be so kind as to provide Mr. Miller with some Vaperioum Paste?" Dumbledore asked. Snape pulled the green bottle out again, and tilted it, rubbing his fingers over the top. He then walked over to Miller and rubbed his finger under his nose. Milled flinched, but after a moment he was not choking. "Now Severs, what room did you say the body was found in?" Dumbledore asked.
"It was room four seven zero Head Master. Right this way." Snape intoned, he also offered the green bottle to Professor Sprout who was gasping from having tried to hold her breath. Dumbledore Professor Sprout and Professor Snape walked down the north corridor which held several rooms, and left Miller and Harry by themselves. Suddenly as Harry looked around he had a sudden sense of déjà vu.
"Where are we? I think I've been here before." Harry asked Miller. Miller just gave him a dirty look, and then set down against the wall with his head propped on his knees. After a moment of concentrating Harry finally remembered where he was, and where he had smelled the stench before. It was when Hermione and himself had gone looking for Padma Patel that day. The day that he had had the argument with Cho. How could I have forgotten? Harry thought. But something else was bothering him. His nightmare that he remembered so vividly about Padma, the room number that Snape had mentioned seemed somehow familiar to him. For several minutes Harry racked his brain to get the answer, until finally it came to him. He recalled that in his dream that he had been attacked by the same creatures that the Bogart had turned into, and left the room in a rush. Upon closing the door in his dream to shut out the creatures he had happened to look up at the door frame. It was two seven zero. Harry wondered why he hadn't remembered it before. That was the room they had gone into, that meant that his nightmare had been true. And Harry had killed Padma Patel, or at least Draco and his friends had set it up that way, and most likely used Polly Juice potion. At least no one had seen him this time, so he would have more time to prove his innocence. Suddenly Harry heard a horrific scream from down the corridor and he and Miller both jumped up in surprise, and looked down the corridor. Professor Sprout was running towards them with tears in her eyes, and a hateful look on her face. Dumbledore and Snape were running right behind her trying to catch up. When she reached the two boys she grabbed Harry by the collar, and pushed him against the wall.
"How could you!" She cried. How could you do that to the poor girl! You… you evil… Why? Why did you do it Potter?" Sprout shouted hysterically. Harry's eyes went wide.
"I… I didn't… I didn't do anything." Harry said honestly. Professor Sprout shook him violently.
"Lire, I saw you! I saw everything. The Bogart, the hornets… everything!" She shouted angrily. Dumbledore and Professor Snape pulled her off of Harry, and tried to calm her down.
"Now… now Professor Sprout, calm down… Harry isn't capable of this. There has to be some reasonable explanation." Dumbledore said calmly. Professor Sprout looked at Dumbledore with an expression of sincere shock.
"Reasonable explanation? You two both saw him… you both saw him kill her with the Bogart… saw the hornets sting her to death, hundreds of them. We… we have to inform the Ministry…" Sprout said in an urgent tone.
"We can't… not until we investigate further. We need to know what really happened here. I can assure you that it wasn't Harry who did it. We must not tell them yet. I will find out what really happened, but first we cannot let anyone know about what we saw in there for now Professor." Dumbledore said in a slightly panicked tone. Professor Sprout looked at Dumbledore with a look of sincere disbelief.
"Are… are you insane Head Master? We have to warn the Ministry… it's our duty to the students, their parents. We cannot just keep this to ourselves, this is murder!" Professor Sprout said shaking. Harry was panicking. He could feel his heart beating at rapid pace, and his knees were about to give out. He looked over at Allen Miller who was standing against the corner, jaw dropped, and eyes wide open. The color had drained from his face, and left his skin a pasty white.
"Please Professor Sprout. I cannot let you go to the Ministry. Please agree not to say anything at least until I have more time to come up with some evidence vindicating Potter." Dumbledore pleaded. Professor Sprout shook her head.
"No, I'm going now, you'll have a chance to try and disprove what we saw in court. I have to do this."Professor Sprout said. Dumbledore nodded.
"I understand… and I have to stop you, I'm very sorry." Dumbledore said pulling out his wand on her. Sprout's eyes went wide, as she looked down at Dumbledore's wand, and then back up to him.
"Albus… what are you doing?" Sprout asked just as Dumbledore said an incantation for a memory charm. She froze. And Dumbledore turned to Snape.
"I'm going to perform a memory charm to make Professor Sprout forget what she saw Severus. You must now allow anyone to go into that room until I have had a chance to review what we saw a few more times, in order to…"
"My god, its true what Sanchez said… Potter has you under the imperious curse. Your under his control! I can't believe it." Allen Miller shouted. Dumbledore and Snape turned to see him edging toward the corridor which Harry and the masters had come through earlier.
"Oh Mr. Miller, I was just about to get to you. No he doesn't have me under the imperious curse; it's not what it looks like. I just need time to find out what really happened. Now listen. I need to perform a memory charm on you as well, so please don't move." Dumbledore asked. Miller pulled out his wand and said a shield charm as Dumbledore, attempted to zap him with the memory charm. Millers block was successful, and he ran down the corridor towards the upper levels. Snape gave a great sigh.
"One of my best students Head Master." He said casually. Dumbledore turned to Professor Snape.
"Severus, you have to go stop him, I'll deal with Professor Sprout, and take Harry with me to my office. Meet me there with Miller when you catch up with him, and don't let him speak to other students." Dumbledore said a hint of panic in his voice. Snape nodded and rushed down the corridor at quick speed. Dumbledore then turned his attention to a rather catatonic looking professor Sprout. "Now Professor Sprout you will think that we have investigated the room with the girl's body, and found nothing. You will inform Madam Pomfree to have Mr. Filch come and collect the body, and have him bring a sheet, and a gurney, and bring it to the hospital room. Don't allow anyone to see it, not even the Ministry person… and tell them it's because of the… condition of the body. Also you will not tell them that we found the body tied up yet. You will then tell everyone you feel sick from your experience, and go and rest for today. Do you understand?" Dumbledore asked. Professor Sprout nodded. "Good, then go now." Dumbledore asked. He then turned to Harry. "Harry go directly to my office, and wait for me. I have to remove the ropes from around the body. We will discuss this when I get back." Dumbledore finished. Harry traumatized from the experience left in a run, crying uncontrollably all the way. His worst fear had been confirmed, Padma Patel had been killed in the vicious way that he had thought. She had Killed by a Bogart in the form of a swarm of angry hornets. As he ran the long distance to the Head Masters office, he reflected on his nightmare. He could still hear her screams fresh in his ears, and despite being far away from room #473 he could some how smell and even taste the death that hung in the corridor. For it was death that he had smelled, and he couldn't get it out of his mind. How, how did they know it was me? It wasn't like the Quidditch match where there were witnesses, or like when I threatened Allen Miller. No one would have seen me… or Draco pretending to be me. But what if… what if it was me? What if Voldermort is possessing me, and I did it under the imperious curse? No he can't… I would have felt him trying to work inside my head. Draco with Polly juice -potion, that has to be the answer. Dumbledore must have some answers I should have told him about this before, god how stupid of me. I hope that Snape can catch Miller in time to stop him. Harry thought to himself as he reached the stone gargoyle.
The Hogwarts Court Yard
The north courtyard of Hogwarts was filled with students on their break period, in enjoying their various leisure activities. Some Griffendores, lead by Hermione granger were sitting under a concrete over hang studying for N.E.W.T's, in another part of the square Jeremy Stretton was discussing the strategy for the upcoming game with his team, and still some students from various houses spent their time snogging in the out of the way corners of the court yard. On a concrete bench, set away from the other students, Marietta Edgecombe, Danielle Forester, and Lori Sanchez sat discussing Marietta's next cunning scheme to advance the society. It was a plan that had it's ruff formation at the beginning of the year when Lori was punished with detention by madam Sprout for espousing her political beliefs in the Great Hall at the beginning of the year. A punishment that Marietta got Lori to extend by two weeks by having her accidently destroy one of the mandrakes while practicing an Incendio spell when she was preparing the green house for Madam Sprout to arrive. Actually she had merely removed it from it's potting, and hid it at the very edge of the forbidden forest, to be recovered if Marietta ever thought of a good use for it in at a future date. That date had now arrived.
"Now Lori, are you sure you remember where you buried it? Also, are you sure that it has matured to adulthood by now?" Marietta asked again in a serious tone. Lori sighed, and rolled her eyes.
"Yes Marietta, for the tenth time yes. I have the map in my room, along with the copy of the key that I made, security charms and all. I know exactly where I put it." Lori said annoyed at being asked the same question repeatedly. Marietta gave her a stern look.
"Don't cop that attitude with me Lori. This all has to work perfectly according to plan. If we get caught, it could send us all to Azkaban for a long time. The plan has to be followed to the letter. I must be sure that you can find it tomorrow." Marietta said as both Lori and Danielle gasped.
"Wha… what do you mean a long time in Azkaban? I didn't know that stealing a mandrake would get you time in Azkaban, especially since your going to have me bring it back. What… what exactly is the plan?" Lori asked.
"That's on a need to know basis, and right now you two don't need to know. In fact don't even discuss this with any society members. Go to your room and get the map and the key, give them to me in the Great Hall, and make sure that no one sees you pass it to me." Marietta instructed her. Lori gave her a confused look in return.
"And… and then what Marietta?" Lori asked. A slight grin came across Marietta's face.
"And then your part in all this is over. You let me worry about what… now go and get the map and the key. You've done a very good job Lori, and your rewards will be vast once the society is in power. Wealth, power… everything you've dreamed of, but there will still be more work to do. You and Danielle have proven yourselves instrumental in all this. Now go and get everything ready, just remember to be inconspicuous when you hand the items to me. Now go." Marietta finished. Lori left for the Gryffindor dorms leaving Marietta and Danielle to converse further.
"Marietta, I know that you give us orders and relay information from Professor Watson on a need to know basis, but I would like to know myself what you have planed for the mandrake. I mean I am your best friend, and I think that I've proven myself a trustworthy confidant." Danielle said sincerely. Marietta smiled and ran her hand across Danielle's cheek.
"Humm, of coarse you have my dear. The society has been able to place a new teacher to work at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, there are no positions open right now. I'm going to see that that issue is dealt with. To do that, some one has to quit, or else… be removed some other way." Marietta said with a mischievous grin on her face. Danielle smiled, an excited look on her face.
"You mean your going to get that mudblood fired?" She asked happily. "But how are you going to do that with a mandrake?" Marietta rolled her eyes, and gave a sigh.
"No Danielle, I'm going to…" she began but was interrupted by shots from the west end of the courtyard.
"Help! Help me!" Allen Miller shouted in terror. Marietta and Danielle jumped to their feet along with the other students to see what was going on. Miller was running across the court yard, out of breath, and looking behind him as if something horrible was chasing him down, and stopped only when he crashed into Susan Bones, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Several students came over to help the two up, among them Ron Whesley and Parvati Patel. Marietta rushed over to the scene as well her interest peaked by the fear that Miller displayed.
"Miller, what's… what's going on?" Hermione asked. Miller's face was ashen white, and his voice shook as he spoke.
"It's the head master and Professor Snape. They… I mean Professor Sprout came out of the corridor and she said… she said sniff that Potter killed Padma." Miller said getting up. Tears were steaming down his eyes. "Potter… killed her… oh god, he… killed her. And he has control of the Head Master, and Professor Snape… they found her body and Professor Sprout she… she confronted Potter… said he did it, and… was going to the Ministry, but Dumbledore had Professor Snape gave Professor gave her a… a memory charm to… make her forget. He tried to attack me. They didn't want anyone to know it was Potter. I… I ran. Professor Snape was after me. I ran." Miller said his voice a mixture of panic, and sorrow. Several of the students gasped at Millers accusation. Ron jumped in front of Miller his face as red as his hair.
"Your lying Miller, Harry would never hurt or try to control anyone. And Dumbledore wouldn't just zap people with memory charms either. This is some Slytherin trick. What are you really at?" Ron demanded.
Miller shot a hateful look at Ron.
"Go to hell Weasley. Professor Sprout was about to go to the Ministry about Potter, because they fond my girlfriends body, and some how Professor Sprout had discovered it was Potter. The Head Master ordered Snape to alter her memory, and then he sent Professor Snape after me. I ran, but I have to find Potter, he killed my Padma. I'm going to kill him." Miller said bitterly, his fear seeming to be replaced by rage at Ron's accusations. Many of the students were watching this argument with interest, some were gasping with shock, and had looks of horror on their faces. A few had left the courtyard, presumably to go tell friends. Marietta turned away from the ruckus, and spotting Danielle grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her away from the crowd, that had gathered.
"About bloody time!" She said to herself in frustration.
"Time for what Marietta, why did you pull me away? I wanted to hear what happened. Did you hear what Allen Miller said about Potter, do… do you think that it's true what he said?" Danielle asked nervously.
"Nothing, listen Danielle, I think that were going to have…" Marietta started, but was again interrupted by another commotion. This time it was Professor McGonagall, trying to move the students into the Great Hall.
"Attention please, your attention please. Now listen. I need everyone to move to the Great Hall, there has been an emergency and we need to get a count of all students. Now don't go to your classes or, your Houses, as everyone is assembling in the Great Hall." Professor McGonagall started. " I want everyone to move quickly, and orderly, and…"
Professor McGonagall… Allen says the Head Master attacked him with a memory charm!" a brown haired Huffelpuff boy said urgently. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.
"He said what?" the Professor asked seeming not to believe what had been said. Mariette watched Miller step out in front of the crowd, and explain much of what he had stated before, but this time he was stopped in mid sentence by a females shout.
"Stop it! Stop it! It's not true… she can't be…" Parvati Patel screamed. She was looking at Allen Miller with tears in her eyes, a grim expression on her face. "Allen, how could you say that… did you even see my sister?" Parvati asked sobbing, as two Griffendore girls ran over to comfort her. Miller too was still crying as he spoke.
"I… I didn't see her body, but there are several other students that know there was a body, and Professor Sprout. She knew… said that Potter had done it, and that she… she was going to the Ministry about… him, but the Head Master stopped her… and tried to memory charm me. " Miller started, but was cut off by Professor McGonagall.
"Mister Miller, stop these accusations right now! How dare you say such things against Mr. Potter and the Head Master! You are to stop this at once and everyone is to come with me." Professor McGonagall started.
"Not… so fast… Professor McGonagall! I… have to have a… word with Mr. Miller, and I'll need to speak to all the students in this court yard." Professor Snape demanded wheezing and doubled over from what looked like a long run. Marietta began to panic when she heard Snape say that he needed to talk to all the students in the court yard. If what Miller said was true than professor Snape might try to memory charm everyone that he could with memory charms to cover it up. He may be my favorite Professor, but he still works for the enemy. She turned to Danielle.
"Quickly we have to go now to the Great Hall, and warn the other students about Potter and the Professors. If what Miller said is true, I think that the Head Master will want to keep this secretes from everyone. You know how he favors the mudbloods, especially Potter. Quickly now!" Marietta instructed as the two rushed out the other end of the courtyard. Behind her Marietta could hear Allen Miller arguing with Snape.
"Keep away from me Professor! I know that your going to try and memory charm me like the Head Master put on Professor Sprout. I won't let you do it, I have witnesses!" Miller screamed.
"What are you talking about Miller, I just want to talk, don't be silly, the Head Master didn't do anything to professor Sprout! Look your just in shock from finding out that it was your girl friend, now just relax and come over here." Snap demanded irritably.
As Danielle and Marietta turned the corner, Marietta reflected that Lori Sanchez had tried to convince Miller weeks earlier to join the society, spreading the rumor about Potter controlling the Head Master, and he expressed no interest, as he had half blood and muggleborne friends. Hump, now the idea that Potter might be controlling things doesn't seem so absurd to you does it Miller. Well, this hasn't worked out exactly the way I wanted, but if Danielle and I work at it, by tomorrow, almost the entire school will suspect Potter.
Soon the two girls entered the Great Hall and Marietta surveyed many students sat talking to each other in confusion about why their classes had been canceled. Professor Flitwick and Argus Filch were moving from table to table trying to find out which students were not yet accounted for. Once more Marietta scanned from right to left, looking for her friends who were in the society.
"Alright Danielle, you take the Slytherin and Huffelpuff tables and I'll take the Ravenclaw and Griffendore. Start letting the other society members what happened, and then work your way down from there. We need to get rumors flying as soon as possible, before the Head Master has a chance to move to block our plan. He can't memory charm every student in the school. Now let's get to work. " Marietta finished. As she moved toward the Griffendore table she fought to hide a smile, reflecting to herself on how her hard work was finally paying off. It has been just as Professor Watson has predicted, but better. The Masters must have used the history charms again, as they did in the ruins of the Hogwarts Auxiliary building after the professor had burned it down and tried to blame it on the mud-bloods and half bloods. The charms that had been the proof against the Professor that got him thrown out of Hogwarts and eventually the country, never allowed to return the United Kingdom or use magic again… that is until his pardon was secured through years of bribes and blackmailing of public officials. But the Professor had learned from that experience, and had feverishly worked for decades to find a way for a Wizard of Witch to cover their tracks, and hide their crimes. Once he had found out how to do this he spend part of each summer training me in secret, and having me study the Dark Arts in private every chance that I got. But it wasn't enough to cover up a crime as was to affix blame to someone else. And this was the plan all along. Now I will be the one to bring down The Harry Potter. But I can't believe my luck! I had expected Dumbledore to defend Potter once they saw him, or at least my love disguised as him, kill Padma, but I didn't expect him too try and memory charm someone to prevent it from being discovered. He's getting old, to make a mistake like that, or maybe it was a moment of panic. In any event Dumbledore's Mistake may have just made this operation more successful that I ever could have hoped for. Marietta thought excitedly to herself.