Chapter 58: The Breakup.
Harry sat in the Head Masters office, as Dumbledore nervously paced back and fourth with an agitated look on his face. Harry had never seen him so upset. They had not said a word to each other since Dumbledore had returned fifteen minutes ago. Harry had wanted to speak with him, but every time that he opened his mouth, he wasn't able to get the words out.
Why oh why didn't I tell him about the nightmare about killing Padma? I was afraid that saying would make it real, and that I would get in trouble, but it happened anyway, and now I'm in trouble anyway. I… I'm going to Azkaban if I don't find a way to prove my innocence, but how do I do that? I have to tell him now, though he'll be angry at me for not telling him in the first place. Harry looked up at Dumbledore, if he spent much more time pacing back and fourth, he would where a deep grove in the cobblestone floor.
"Professor, I… need to tell you something." Harry said quietly. Dumbledore stopped his pacing, and set across the desk from Harry in his own chair. He then waited for Harry to speak, which he did with a hint of shame in his voice from having kept something from Dumbledore. "I… I had a nightmare that I didn't tell you about… one about me… killing Padma Patel. I didn't tell you because I was afraid that it would come true if I did. I didn't want it to be true. I know it sounds stupid, but … I had it. Like Professor Sprout said, it was a Bogart that came after Padma as a swarm of hornets. I remember everything; it was like it just happened. It must be as I said Draco impersonating me with Polly-juice potion. I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier." Harry finished. Dumbledore looked at Harry with a shocked expression on his face before he spoke next.
"You… you mean you knew? Harry the body was badly decomposed. It looked like it had been there for weeks! Harry, tell me, how long ago you have this nightmare!" Dumbledore demanded. Harry put his head back down, and felt himself on the verge of tears.
"I… It was a few weeks ago. I'm sorry. I was afraid. How would you feel if your nightmares started to come true, and you couldn't easily remember if you had an alibi or not for something like this. It was at night, and I had asked my room mates if they had seen me leave my bed, but they had all been asleep, so I had no proof that I had remained in my bed that night. But what I don't understand is… how did Professor Sprout know that… that it looked like me doing this, or could I actually have been under the impero curse?" Harry asked. Dumbledore looked at Harry quietly for a moment.
"Has your scar been hurting Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Harry shook his head. "I see, well then I think that you would know if you were under the curse, not most people would, but you're an exception to the rules. " Harry again shook his head. Dumbledore nodded. Than I think that it is not him controlling you. Perhaps it is most likely as you said someone impersonating you, but I do not understand how you are having such vivid dreams about it, that's nothing to do with anyone using Polly-Juice Potion. You see if someone impersonates you, you really don't remember anything. So it makes the explanation for your nightmares, very confusing." Harry nodded his understanding.
"Dumbledore I… I was curious to know how you were able to find out what happened in that room. I mean… I didn't do it, but I remember it. How did all of you know, what happened in that room?" Harry queried.
"You see Harry; the walls at Hogwarts have a long memory, as long as the school has been established. Sometimes there is a way for us to tap into that memory. With the right spells and incantations we can recreate the events that took place in this school, and that's what Professor's Sprout, Snape and myself did. As professor Sprout is not a member of the Order of the Phoenix, she formed her own opinion from what she saw. What she saw if you remember your nightmare clear enough is you berating that poor, tied up Patel girl for being a pureblood. Then she saw… you levitate the chair and… and the Bogart come out in a swarm of hornets, and sting her to death. She was stung so much that it swelled up her face, and that is one reason that the body could not be visually identified right away, and if we hadn't used the history charms than we wouldn't even know that it was her until we took a head count of the student body. I know that you didn't do it Harry, and I know that I'll have to inform the Ministry soon, but… I need some time to investigate the room further before they do." Dumbledore took off his half moon spectacles, and placed them on the table, rubbing his eyes, and continued. "I don't want it going around that people think that you did it, so that's why I memory charmed Professor Sprout, and had Severis go after Allen Miller to do the same…" Dumbledore continued but was interrupted but then stopped suddenly as Severis Snape burst in the door, and ran up to the Head Master's desk.
"Head Master, we have a problem. It's bad." Snape burst out in panic. Dumbledore rose suddenly out of his chair.
"What is it Severis, where is Mr. Miller?" Dumbledore asked. Professor Snape's face turned to an expression of embarrassment, and he hesitated before he spoke next.
"Mr. Miller was able to reach the courtyard before I could stop him. He told some other students what had happened, and added that Potter had you under the imperious curse. I tried to calm him down, as I couldn't just memory charm him in front of everyone, and when it was going to be evident that it was not going to work because of all the potential witnesses, I ordered the students to wait in the event that I would have to memory charm everyone in the courtyard… however, I soon found that I was too late, and that Miller's accusations had already spread to the students gathered in the Great Hall. I suppose some students had left to tell friends just before I arrived in the courtyard, but in any event the news of what Miller said is wide spread, and I couldn't memory charm every student. I left Professor McGonagall to keep things as under control as possible, but the effects of Miller's accusations are perhaps undeterminable at this time." I have him in my office… I had to isolate him, and tell the other students in the court yard that he was in shock. I'm not sure that they all believed me. Head Master perhaps you made a mistake in trying to memory charm Professor Sprout and Miller. I know that you wanted to investigate more before the Ministry did their own work, but this has caused quiet a stir in the student body." Snape said in a more calm breath.
"Severis, if I had allowed that then they would have taken Harry away, and thrown him in a ministry cell. I couldn't have allowed that." Dumbledore said.
"Perhaps you could say that you suspect that Potter was under the imperious curse, or that you believe that he was being impersonated by someone. In any event you might even be able to persuade the Ministry to keep him confined here." Snape continued. If you guarantee the Ministry that you can prevent him form performing magic than…"
"Prevent him from performing magic? Severis, Harry needs to learn magic defense more now then ever before. It's become more than about his education, it's become about saving the worlds in which Wizarding folk, and Muggles live. He has a destiny to stop you know who, and if he is right and it is Luscious Malfoy's son that is impersonating him…" Dumbledore started.
"Draco Malfoy has done nothing to anyone. Potter just finds him a convenient target. Potter has been causing trouble for Draco for years, and I've been watching Draco for years, he is working hard in school and trying to get through a difficult time. So he's not controlling or impersonating anyone." Snape said bitterly. Harry shot up out of his seat, and pointed an accusing finger at Professor Snape.
"Well than maybe you're covering for him! He always was your favorite student, no doubt why as he hangs out with your death eater friends, and has been after me since my first year. Or maybe… you're the one working against me; after all you certainly have experience as a dark wizard. Maybe you killed Padma Patel." Harry shouted. Snape enraged back handed Harry so hard that he fell to the floor, and moved to strike him again, but Dumbledore moved to block him.
"Now Severis, stop." Dumbledore demanded.
"Why you little… I have proven myself, time and time again to the Order of the Phoenix, and I don't need to prove myself to a little git like you. How dare you attempt to belittle me! You who are not even my equal; you're a student, and a poor one at that. You know who I think it is behind this Potter? It's you. Why not, after you attacked Draco on the train in your fourth year, and again this year. For all your infractions any other student would have been thrown out, but not you! Head Master's little pet, that's what my students call you, and how could anyone blame them." Snape raged angrily. You're coddled at every turn, given special treatment that is never afforded to any other students in the school, and…"
"Severis, how dare you!" Dumbledore shouted in a hostile tone. Professor Snape turned to Dumbledore with a disgusted look on his face.
"How dare I? How dare you sir. How dare you completely absolve Potter of any wrong doing after what we saw there today? IF it were any other student that we witnessed do this, you would have allowed Professor Sprout to go to the ministry. Maybe you would have argued for more proof on the students' behalf or requested more time, but you wouldn't have zapped a fellow staff member, or students. Now I have tremendous respect for you Head Master, but I've watched you coddle Potter for the last five years, always assuming that he is an infallible angle, above the considerations of other students." Snape bitterly retorted.
"That's enough Severis, we both know that Harry did not do anything, and I assure you that I don't treat him better than any other student…" Dumbledore started, but was again interrupted by Snape.
"Really Head Master? How many other students are you on a first name basis with? How many other students have you had to come into your office on a regular basis? Potter is…"
"I said that that is enough! Shut up!" Dumbledore retorted slamming his hand down on his desk with a loud snap. Snape held his tong, but his hateful look did not leave his face. Dumbledore turned to Harry.
"Harry… apologize to Professor Snape for accusing him of the crime." Dumbledore said in a tone trying to control his temper.
"What?" Harry asked surprised that Dumbledore would ask something of him, just after defending him against Snape.
"Harry, it was wrong of you to accuse Professor Snape of doing this, and I have told you before that he is to be trusted. Professor Snape is not involved in a plot against you, and would not harm a student of this school. He has proven himself time and time again, and you should not accuse him of such things." Dumbledore said in a calmer tone. Harry glanced at Snape for a moment, and then turned back to Dumbledore.
"I've… I've never heard you mention anything that he has specifically done for the order, or against Voldermort." Harry said. "What has he actually done to deserve your trust?" Harry asked unconvinced of Shape's good intentions. Dumbledore gave Harry a stern look.
"Harry, Professor Snape does not have to prove anything to you. He has proven himself time and time again to me and the others in the order, and just because you don't have first hand knowledge of something doesn't mean that it isn't true. You need to start realizing that there are other perspectives than just yours. Now apologize to Professor Snape Harry." Dumbledore said in a demanding tone. Harry looked at Professor Snape and then turned away.
"I'm sorry… Professor." Harry mumbled, not looking at his DADA instructor. Dumbledore than turned to Severis.
"Now Severis, you're not a school boy that I can make apologize, but I want you to know that I strongly, strongly disagree with your accusations about Harry, and about my favoring him over other students. You ought to know better, that he couldn't be capable of this. I don't think a student at this school could actually have done something like that. But that is not to say that some were not involved otherwise that maybe did not know the full extent of the plan. Whatever the plan is. So I think that we need to perhaps interview some of the students that are concerned in the mater, or suspected. We will need to speak with Mr. Miller, and Mr. Malfoy from your house, and Miss Edgecombe, who Harry has suspected of some misdoings. In addition we'll need to speak to Miss Parvati Patel about some instances as well. Maybe she might know if her sister had any enemies, or if someone had reason, in their minds to do her sister harm." Dumbledore finished. He than turned to Harry again. "Now, I want you to stay here, until I get back. Professor Snape and I need to see just how bad the situation with the students is. Professor, if you will please lead the way." Dumbledore motioned him to the door, and the two exited, leaving Harry to sit in his chair reflecting on the fear he felt of being blamed for Padma's death, and being an feared outcast for another year.
It was several hours later when Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape finally returned to the office. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall both levitated some chairs behind Dumbledore's desk, and took their seats on either side of the Head Master. Each had a grim look on their face. Harry fidgeted in his chair nervously, as he waited for them to speak.
"Well Harry, what is bad is this; somehow what Miller said that Professor Sprout screamed at you, and what I did to her and tried to do to him has already spread around the school, and… well, I've given a speech saying that Mr. Miller was in shock, after finding out that it was his girlfriend who's body we found in the storage room, and that he only thought that Professor Sprout had said that it was you who we saw do this. We were not able to give him a memory charm, because too many students had knowledge of his accusations, and the sudden change in his story would have tipped people off. We've denied that we actually had evidence of you doing anything, and since I did have time to memory charm Professor Sprout, she has no knowledge of what she saw in that room. She thinks that we found no evidence. I could not know how many of the students believed me, but I tried to get into some of their minds as I stood in the great hall. Some do still believe you, some believe what Miller said, and some are undecided. I dared not delved any deeper into their minds than that for fear of violating their privacy, and of coarse that was just a sample of about ten students that I used, but… we've decided that you should ignore Mr. Miller's accusations for now. Just try and get through day by day until we can find out who really did this. And I promise you that I will find out the real person or person's responsible Harry. I just need a little time." Dumbledore said apologetically. Harry looked at him, with cold expression.
So, that's it then is it? I'm just to go about my school day as if I wasn't accused of murdering my friend? Just act like I don't know anything, is that it?" Harry asked bitterly. Dumbledore lowered his eyes, and Snape bore into Harry with his.
"Yes Harry. That is it. I'm sorry, but… for now that is what you must do. In two weeks another Ministry helicopter will arrive with student's mail, and an official sent to see how were managing with the protection of students, which… is not at best considering this current event, and then we will have to inform them of what happened. Until that time we can keep what happened within these walls, minus the memory charm on Professor Sprout of coarse. Until then, I'll make sure that no outgoing owls are sent out form the owlery. The three of us will investigate the matter in order to prove your innocence before that time. Don't worry Harry, we'll have plenty of time before the Ministry arrives and we have to issue a report, and by that time we're going to have a lot better idea of what really happened. For now go to your room and get some rest, it's ten o' clock, and I didn't mean to keep you so long. Don't tell anyone anything unless it's just to refute what Allen Miller said. Remember it's his word against yours. All that anyone else knows is that we found the body of Padma Patel, and she was killed by a Bogart. Anything else is just rumor until the Ministry arrives.
Harry walked into the Griffendore dorm room through the portrait of the fat lady, to find the common room full of his fellow students chatting about the day's peculiar events. Devin Smith was the first to spot Harry standing in the passageway. He pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Look! There he is… the killer!" Devin Smith shouted angrily. Everyone turned to look at Harry and the room went silent. People looked at him differently now, not like he was The Harry Potter, but with different faces all together, some it seemed with fear, and some with quizzical looks like they wanted to ask him something. Harry began walking toward across the room to the staircase which led to his dormitory room. As he passed the students he noticed one student that had been ushered away from the corridor that led to the storage rooms by professor Pinefield. The boy took a step toward him.
"Oy Potter, what happened after we had to leave the corridor? Did… did they really find her stone dead? Did… did you really have something to do with it?" The boy asked. Before Harry could answer, Neville cut in.
"Piss off wanker, Harry didn't do anything to Padma. Millers' a lying git, isn't that right Harry?" Neville said jumping to Harry's defense. Harry stopped for a moment, and looked at Neville for a second a depressed look on his face. He couldn't talk now, couldn't tell Neville that Miller wasn't a lying git, and at least from his perspective told the truth as far as he knew. Harry turned his head back to the entrance to the staircase that led to his dorm, and walked up to his room. There were a few Griffendores standing by the door, and as Harry casually approached they seemed to recoil in fear. After climbing the stairs, and entering his room; Harry threw himself onto his bed and cried long and hard, using his pillow to muffle the sound of his moans, and the sight of the tears running down his face. It was his worst fear, it was going to be just like last year, and there was nothing he could do about it!
Over the next several days Harry barely spoke to anyone, but Hermione, Ron and Luna. Ginny was there to lend support on occasion, but was spending more time with her new boyfriend. As for the other students, they appeared to be forming their camps. Harry did have some supporters, in students like Susan Bones, and Neville Long bottom, and most of the former DA, but just as many people appeared to sneer at him. Among those were many Huffelpuffs who seemed to no yet have forgiven him for the incident with Cindy Miggins on the Quidditch Pitch, and the Slytherin's who had always had a hatred for himself and other Griffendores. At least he did not have to take that personally, except for the fact that Fiona Burrows didn't look at him once from their table. It was actually the only time he ever saw her lately, and he wondered if she was trying to avoid him. No, can't be. She said she would support me to the end, forever loyal. However most students seemed to avoid him like the plague, giving him a wide berth whenever he passed, and scooting there chairs to the far extremes from where ever he sat down in class. Many even whispered to each other about him at the great hall, giving him sinister stairs that caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end. Chief among these were Beverly Jones and Cho's other Ravenclaw friends. Harry remembered her threats about what would happen to him if he hurt any of her friends very clearly, and actually believed that if she had the opportunity she would carry them out.
As the days passed he did note that two students had been absent from the great hall, and classes. Allen Miller and Parvati Patel were not to be seen in the following days, and Harry had questioned Professor McGonagall as to why. Harry was surprised to find that Allen Miller was in detention for spreading lies about him to other students, and Parvati was to distraught to go to class over the death of her sister. Harry had wanted to see Parvati more than anyone now. He wanted to tell her that he had nothing to do with her sisters death, and that what Miller said wasn't what really happened, but she was staying in one of the guest rooms of the castle with her parents, and they were not to be disturbed under any circumstances, while they made ready to leave for their journey back to London.
Dumbledore had Harry go to room #473 on a Sunday. He told Harry that he needed him to look at everything that happened, to find out if he could see anything out of place. Dumbledore again recreated the scene, looking at every detail of the image of Harry's brutal acts, and listening to the reasons that his mirror image gave for killing Padma. Harry saw himself saying things that he didn't believe at all about hating purebloods.
"I tied you up Bitch… because, I hate purebloods like you. You people act like your better than everyone else, and I take a lot of flack from the Slytherin's about not being completely pure. That's why I zapped that Slytherin boy on the train, and that's why I'm going to hurt you. You and Miller think that you can yell at me and get away with it? Do you know how angry I was? That was insulting, arguing with me like that. I'm going to make all you purebloods pay; I'm going to make sure that there is no place in the wizarding world for any of you. One by one, I'm going to take you all out." Harry's image said in front of him. It was a lie, and Harry wanted to zap his image with his wand, but knew that it was futile, it was just an image of the past that looked like him, and talked like him, but wasn't real now. There was noting that he could do. Harry watched wit Dumbledore as the cabnet opened and the hornets flew out by the hundreds, painfully stinging Padma to death, he heard the beatings of their wings, and the horrid screams from Padma, as they beast crawled over her. He couldn't take the sight anymore, his breathing became heavy and he ran outside the room and vomited. He was shaking, and sobbing, as he looked up at Dumbledore.
"Never again… never again. I… I don't want to see it again." Harry said with a tone of finality.
"I'm sorry Harry, but I must know if you see anything out of place, something that doesn't look right. I know how horrible to look at, I've been down hear several times myself. I also hate to look at it, but I have to find out how someone impersonated you." Dumbledore said in an apologetic tone.
"What about Draco Malfoy? What about Marietta Edgecombe?" Harry asked. "Where were they when the things that I supposedly did happened." Harry asked.
"They both have a valid excuse for where they were at the time. Harry, both well away from the Quidditch Pitch and I recreated where Miller said you threatened him and Padma. Both Mr. Malfoy and Miss Edgecombe were nowhere near the area, and had witnesses to the fact. The same with the other children of Death Eaters, all have an alibi. You're the only one that doesn't Harry." Dumbledore said.
"What do you mean? I had detentions in Filch's office when Miller was threatened." Harry complained.
"Well he said that you didn't show up until late, so you could conceivably had time to…" Dumbledore continued, but was again cut off.
"I don't care… I didn't do anything. I'm innocent. I shouldn't have to go through this." Harry said. He stood up and stormed off in absolute frustration. Rounding a corner he saw Fiona Burrows talking to Draco Malfoy, and some other Slytherin's. He walked up to her.
"Fiona, can I talk to you alone for a moment please?" Harry asked. Fiona recoiled as if Harry were a disgusting thing standing in front of her.
"Potter I… what do you want?" she asked in a surprised tone.
"Look I really need to talk to you alone please." Harry asked pleading. Fiona rolled her eyes.
"Fine." She looked back at her companions and promised to be back in a moment, and headed to a secluded corner with Harry.
"Look. I really need to spend some time with you. I've been really depressed and I need to talk to someone about…" Harry started, but stopped when Fiona put her hand up to silence him.
"Look Harry I'm very busy right now. I don't have time." She said shortly. Harry was taken aback at her rudeness. But decided to let it go.
"Fiona, can we talk after classes. I've just been really down lately, and need to talk to someone about…"
"Harry… I can't be seen with you anymore!" Fiona said in a frustrated tone. Harry's jaw dropped.
"Wh… what are you talking about?" Harry asked blankly. "I didn't have anything to do with what happened to Padma Patel. Miller was wrong about what he said he saw." Harry said nervously.
"It doesn't matter Potter. The truth is that… weather you guilty or not this incident has done massive damage to your popularity, and I just don't need to be caught up in the fall out. I have a reputation to protect. People expect certain standards from me, and being seen with a boy everyone considers a danger to others isn't exactly good for my reputation. So… please understand that I don't need to be seen with you anymore." Fiona said with a tone of finality.
"But Fiona, I need you right now, I…" Harry started.
"Potter, please just go away." Fiona stated. As she looked up Fiona noted several other Slytherin students around her were looking at the exchange with keen interest. Fiona turned once more to Harry, and cleared her throat.
"I'm breaking up with you Potter. I Fiona Burrows don't need to be seen with the likes of you." She shouted, and turned on her heal to rejoin her fellow Slytherin's, leaving Harry feeling at the bottom of the world. He stood there for a few minutes silent as several students gave him quizzical looks as they walked by on their way to class, each of them keeping a distance. It now seemed to most people that he wasn't any longer, The Harry Potter anymore, but again Harry Potter freak, and danger to other students again.
Suddenly Harry felt a taping on his shoulder. He turned around to see two men in green robes with grim faces staring at him.
Mr. Harry Potter. We need you to come with us." One of the men said curtly.
"Who are you?" Harry asked.
"I'm Daffed Walsh, and this is Gordon Primfold. We're with the Ministry of Magic, and we have a few questions to ask you. Harry's heart sunk, as they let him towards Dumbledore's office. He had no idea of what to expect now, but he was afraid.