Chapter 62: The Reflecting of Harry Potter
The room was of an elegant design, with marble columns that rose splendidly to the high ceiling that was painted to reveal a grassy Scottish landscape. The furniture was glossy wand crafted oak, and an enchanting crystal chandelier hovered above the room, emitting light from the very crystals themselves. You would not know, by the look of it that it was now a holding cell awaiting to take someone to a less appealing dungeon cell in the Ministry of Magic, but as a teary eyed Harry Potter lay on the four post bed, the beauty of the room was lost on him. Three days he had to endure the room, cut off from any news, friends, and Professors. To add Mr. Walsh had thought it wise for him to turn over his wand in order to keep the other students safe. He apparently was no longer thought of well in the Ministry, and his popularity was probably fading among his fellow students as well. Hermione and Ron hadn't been to see him, and he had found that it was again the idea of Mr. Walsh who preferred to keep others away from him, again for their own protection. Harry pondered his fate, which now seemed to be that of last years, with him the feared dangerous mental case that the Ministry and the Daily Profit had made him out to be. How did this happen? I was so determined that things would be different this year. It started off so promising, the paper vindicating me, the Ministry assuring everyone that I did indeed fight against Voldermort and his Death Eaters, and now… I'm about to share a cell next to them. And won't Luscious Malfoy enjoy that, The Harry Potter rotting away next to him in Azkaban. Bloody lovely that is. Where did it all go wrong. My stupid tantrum on the train, my fault admittedly. The Yule ball fiasco, not my fault, but not such a bizarre circumstance. But then there was the Quidditch game and threatening Miller and Padma, and… killing her. Now what will I do? I didn't even tell Ron or Hermione, what was I to say? All my nightmares are coming true, and I just had one that I killed Padma. Dumbledore said that the walls had memories and they showed me killing her. What if I did? What if Voldermort has me under the imperious curse? My occlumency lessons were a disaster, what if he's able to control me even in the castle. Is any student safe from me? So much missing time, so much… I don't understand. Why don't I have clear memories of that day? Filch… every time I had one of those days I went to his office… I went to his office for infractions that I barely remember, everything was hazy. Did he have something to do with it? Marietta also seems to play a part in it, but then what part, is she working for Voldermort? All this time I kept suspecting poor Cho of working against me, but what about others… Pansy Parkinson delivered the letter to Snape that day. He has to have something to do with it. Bastard, he's had it in for me from the start. Maybe I've been wrong about Draco, maybe Snape is the real Dark Wizard behind all this time? Leading Marietta, and Pansy, and who knows who else. I'll have to tell Dumbledore everything… Dumbledore! Can he ever forgive me? I've been a prat for two years now, and been very hateful to him… to a lot of people. Especially the ones who have tried to help me the most, Dumbledore… Cho. I'm going to tell Dumbledore everything. No more holding back. I just hope he'll forgive me. Harry's reflecting was interrupted by a knock on his door. He looked up.
"Come in." He said weakly. The door opened and Mr. Walsh walked in, with Dumbledore who flinched in seeming pain as the light from the chandelier met his eyes. Dumbledore stopped for a minute and seemed to concentrate, very hard, as Mr. Walsh looked at him puzzled. Finally Dumbledore lifted his wand and said a dimming incantation, which lowered the brightness of the light. Mr. Walsh motioned Harry to take a seat on the edge of his bed, and the two men pulled up oak chairs close to Harry. As Harry looked at Dumbledore he almost fell over. The Head Masters eyes were so dilated that they gave the appearance of shark eyes, and yet he was wearing a smile on his face, very odd considering that the circumstances that they found themselves under these days. The Head Master reached over and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"Well now Mr. Potter I know that it must have been hard on you these last few days, but Mr. Walsh and I have some good news for you. It seems that we will not be sending you to the Ministry… at least not yet. You see I've convinced the officials, including the Prime Minister that you can remain here at least until Christmas Holliday's are over. Isn't that right Mr. Walsh?" Dumbledore said smiling at Mr. Walsh gingerly, and giving him a shark eyed grin. Mr. Walsh did not return the smile, but had a rather stuffy look on his face.
"I suppose it is Head Master." He said bitterly. "Though again I would like to express my unhappiness with the Ministry's decision. I haven't made up my mind about Potter, yet, but I think it would be a safe precaution to keep him away from other students." Mr. Walsh said curtly. Dumbledore gave him a chuckle.
"Now, now Mr. Walsh… you can't really believe that he is a danger, after the Ministry itself has agreed to allow him to attend here a bit longer." Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Your not a danger to others are you Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore questioned him.
"No sir, I… Mr. Potter?" Harry asked surprised at being addressed so formally by Dumbledore.
"Why yes, that's your name isn't it?" Dumbledore chuckled. Harry guessed that he was being so formal because of Mr. Walsh's sake, and let it go.
"Yes sir that is good news. Does that mean that I will get my wand back?" Harry asked, remembering the day that the Ministry officials arrived that Mr. Walsh said that it would be safer for the other students if Harry didn't have such a volatile weapon at his command. Mr. Walsh scoffed.
"I should say not Mr. Potter, considering the circumstances. Dumbledore must have a large amount of pull in the Ministry to keep you here, but I can assure you that I don't share their assessment of the situation. I'm only thinking about the safety of the other students here.
"How am I supposed to learn without books, just read about the spells, and charms? That would do bloody well. That's what Umbridge tried to do last year. It was bullocks then, and it's bullocks now." Harry said angrily. Dumbledore patted him on the back, and smiled a toothy grin that made him look even more like a shark when combined with his black eyes.
"Now, now Mr. Potter, Mr. Walsh is just concerned, and you'll be getting your wand back after we've cleared everything with the Ministry. In the meantime at least you get to go back with your classmates. You can leave this room tomorrow for breakfast." Dumbledore finished happily.
"With an escort!" Mr. Walsh pronounced. Harry turned to him confused.
"An escort?" Harry asked quizzically. Mr. Walsh adjusted his bowler.
"Yes Mr. Potter… an escort. I will have to go back to London and clear all this mess up, meanwhile Mr. Primfold and Mr. Filch will be going from class to class with you to assure the safety of your classmates." Mr. Primfold stated.
"Filch! Not him, he's a wanker!" Harry said with slightly controlled rage. Mr. Walsh had an offended look on his face; he glanced over at Dumbledore menacingly.
"My word Head Master, is that the type of language that you teach your students?" Mr. Walsh asked. Dumbledore shook his head.
"Certainly not, Mr. Potter, that will be one hundred points from Griffendore, and apologize to Mr. Walsh. What you said was wrong." Harry's mouth dropped. One hundred points?!!! He thought, but said nothing, but that he was sorry. Mr. Walsh nodded the acceptance, and started to leave, with Dumbledore bidding Harry goodbye with another shark eyed smile. Harry stood up from his bed quickly.
"Dumbledore sir, could I please have a word with you… in private." Harry asked pleadingly. Dumbledore nodded and bid Mr. Walsh goodnight, and returned to his previous seat.
"What can I do for you Mr. Potter?" He asked pleasantly. Harry looked at him hurt.
"Mr. Potter, are we no longer on a first name basis?" Harry asked. Dumbledore seemed surprised at the statement.
"Are we on a first name basis?" He asked. Well I can't blame him for wondering, I haven't really been to accommodating. Harry thought as hestood there looking at his Head Master for a moment before speaking, and then when he formulated what he wanted to say, lowered his head in embarrassment.
"I guess I deserve that, I just wanted to say sir that… I'm sorry. About everything. About not… telling you everything right after each event happened, about being so rude in the past. I… I know I've been a git, but I promise you that I'm going to change. I've been to angry about the funeral, and being kept in the dark both summers, you can't imagine what it feels like to be so cut off, and maybe that's what I was trying to do to you I guess… cut you off. Well, I just want you to know that I'm not going to do that anymore, from now on, I'm going to let you know everything that happens, and I'm very sorry about everything. I'd like for things to be like they were before. Harry finished with a deep sigh. Dumbledore seemed to take it all in stride.
"Oh, that's ok Mr. Pot… err Harry. I'm sure that you didn't mean it. We'll go back to the way things were before, first name basis." Dumbledore assured. Harry smiled.
"Thank you sir. Thank you very much. I wanted to tell you that… I think that Mr. Filch is in on everything." Harry said in a serious tone. Dumbledore looked around the room, and when it looked like he was sure that he and Harry were alone leaned towards Harry.
"In on what?" Dumbledore whispered.
"Well trying to frame me. I mean… every time something happened that I was accused of doing something. I went to his office, his ghost proof office!" Harry exclaimed. Harry explained his new theory to Dumbledore, commenting on the reflecting that he had been doing in his solitude over the last few days. Dumbledore listened intently, and once Harry had finished he told him that he would certainly keep an eye on Filch.
"But then, you can do that too, considering that you're going to be seeing him a lot from now on." Dumbledore added. "And if you need me, Ill be in my office, just make an appointment. Now if you'll excuse me I have to attend to some business with Mr. Walsh." Dumbledore finished.
"Professor! Will you go see if there's anything in Filch's office? Remember I told you about what sir Nicola's said. That he and his twin brother took something in a crate in there?" Harry asked. A chill seemed to run up Dumbledore's spine as Harry mentioned the crate. He turned back to him.
"Err… yes, I'll look into it." He said quietly. Anything else?" Harry nodded.
"Well… yes, I've been stuck here for three days, can Ron and Hermione come and visit me today." Harry asked. Dumbledore seemed to consider it for a moment, but due to being transfixed by his shark eyes. Finally he spoke.
"Very well Mr. Potter, I'll allow them to come down for a couple of hours. Now have you anything else that you are concerned about?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir, just two more. When I go to your office, what candy will you name the new password after?"
"Um, I… hummm. Oh, I don't know how about Betty Botts Every flavored beans." He said. Harry's mouth dropped open. He hates those, why would he…
"Also what happened to your eyes?" Harry asked concerned. Dumbledore blinked.
"Oh, just a spell that I mixed up, nothing to be concerned about."
Dumbledore got up and said his goodbye to Harry then left the room. In the time that Harry had before Hermione and Ron arrived Harry had more time to reflect on the past, on his loneliness, loneliness, especially for a girl that he missed more than anything, one that he had falsely accused of spying on him, and betraying him. He needed to see her again, needed to be comforted by her, to cry in her arms. How will I explain everything to her? Will she forgive me, and will she confide in me? I have to see her over the Christmas holidays, but I'm not even sure where she lives. Motherwell… should be easy enough. How many Changs could there be in Motherwell, or all of Scotland for that matter. I'm going to see her no matter what. But I have to let her know that I'm coming, have to write her a letter. Harry scoured the room looking for a quill and parchment, wishing that he still had his wand to conger the items out of then air, but he didn't. Eventually he found the items and sat them aside on an oak desk. He would write the letter to Cho Chang, but first he needed to find out from Ron and Hermione his status in the Wizarding world. A few minutes later they arrived. Harry rushed up to hug the two of them almost knocking them over.
"Oh my god I've missed you two, you've no idea what it's like being stuck alone fore three bloody days like this." Harry commented as he threatened to squeeze his to friends to death unintentionally. As soon as they were able to pry away from Harry's death grip, they both took in the vast expanse of the room. Ron's mouth dropped open.
"Gore! Look at this place, right fancy room you've got 'arry. Wish I could have my own place like this." Ron beamed. Hermione slapped him on the head, and gave him a scalding look. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Don't be a git Ron, Harry is in here for punishment, it's a holding cell until he goes to the Ministry, not some luxury suit at the Four Seasons." She turned to Harry. "How are you Harry?" Hermione continued.
"Starved for information. What are people saying about me?" He asked. Hermione frowned. "Well, it's complicated. People aren't sure what to think. I think your status as The Harry Potter has dissolved, I wouldn't be expecting any autographs for a while." Hermione said sadly. Harry nodded.
"Yea, I kind of expected that, and to be honest… I kind of stopped caring about that The Harry Potter after Padma's death. I… I'm sorry I didn't tell you two, but I was scared. Now I don't know what to do. Do you know if it's gotten outside the school yet?" Harry asked. Ron nodded his head, and gave a sigh.
"Fraid so Harry, lots of bullocks from the Daily Profit, seems you're a danger to students again, and there's questions as to if you actually did fight you know who in the Ministry. Seems people have been pulling their kids out of Hogwarts and sending them across the channel to European Magic schools. Not a lot at first, but… Hermione and me recon that more are to come… err go in time. The article just came out two days ago. People are scared of you again… I'm sorry." Ron said honestly. Harry flopped down on his bed, a look of utter defeat on his face.
"Yea, well… you know the Profit, always had my back. Anything else?" Harry asked dejectedly.
"We haven't seen Seamus for a couple of days, and when we did, he was looking very ill. I thought he might be in hospital, but I didn't see him there." Hermione said concerned. Ron says he had a habit of disappearing, but this is the longest that he's ever been gone. We went to Professor McGonagall, and she's looking into it. Did you have a dream about doing anything to Seamus? I hate to ask, but its relevant. Harry shook his head.
"How could… how could people believe the Profit? Don't they realize that they keep changing their story? Harry asked. Ron shrugged.
"Only newspaper in the Wizarding world, someone's got to get their news from somewhere, even if it is bullocks, still makes people feel a bit informed. Mum's right pissed at it, but never has canceled her subscription. Just keeps reading and ranting about how the editors are off their chum." He said quietly.
"What about… the Quibbler?" Harry said. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, and then Harry.
"Well… we don't read it Harry. I mean… it's not really reliable, lots of silly stories, it's not really credible." Ron said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"And the Profit is. It was right when it published my story, and right about the Snorack. What did Luna say will her father write about my side of the story?" Ron and Hermione looked at each other again with worried expressions on their faces, and put their heads down.
"Well Harry, you see… Luna isn't talking to us right now. Ron… he told her about the break up and it hit her harder than we thought. She blames me for stealing Ron away, he wanted to wait for you to take to her, but we didn't know how long you would be here, and Mr. Walsh wouldn't let us see you. I'm sure she'll calm down soon, but she was really hurt." Hermione stated. Ron nodded his agreement.
"Yea, I um always told her I wasn't looking for a commitment, but… she just didn't understand for some reason. I tried to talk with her the other day, but she wouldn't even look at me. However Beverly Jones did stare me down with a "Your Potter's friend aren't you?" Made me a tad nervous the way she was holding her wand so I didn't press Luna anymore.
"Well everything's just going smashing isn't it." Harry smirked. "Look I need to write a letter, can I give it to you two tomorrow at Breakfast and have you give it to Hagrid to deliver at Hogsmead?" Harry asked. Ron's eyebrow went up.
"Why do you need Hagrid to deliver it? We can send Owls out." Ron questioned.
"Its very personal, and I don't want anyone going through it. I'm going to be watched very closely by a Ministry official, and Mr. Filch tomorrow. I've been allowed to attend classes, without my wand of cores, but I have to have Filch and someone else as an escort to protect the other students from me." Harry said tragically. Even Ron seemed to grasp the situation.
"Who's the letter going to?" Ron asked curiously. Harry's eyes lowered, and tear almost developed, but he blinked it away.
"Who is not the problem, but where. I… I don't even know where it's going. I think Motherwell." Harry said softly. Ron scratched his head.
"Where is that?" Ron asked.
"It's outside of Glasgow." Hermione said. "But who do you know there Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Cho Chang. She's with her mother in hospital. I… I want to write her to let her know that it's not me doing this, that what people are saying isn't true. I want to let her know that I'm going to see her over Christmas Holliday." Harry said. "Hermione, can you find out exactly where she is?" Harry pleaded. Hermione nodded.
"Yes Harry, but I don't think her mother would be in Motherwell, maybe Glasgow, Edinburgh, or even London. From what I found out her mum is in pretty bad shape, and would likely be in a large hospital. I'll check into it, and let you know." Hermione smiled. Harry thanked her, and for the next hour the trio talked over things past, present and future. When Mr. Primfold finally arrived to let them know that it was time for Ron and Hermione to return to the Griffendore tower they said their goodbyes and Harry walked over to the Dresser with the Quill and parchment to write a letter, wishing that he had more than one sheet, and hoping that Cho would think that the ink smudges were the result of exposure to rain. After he had finished he set to thinking of possible escape plans at Christmas in case he couldn't get permission to go to see Cho. And hoping that Hermione would have found the right city in time. His mind turned to Cho, wondering what she was doing now that she hadn't completed school. An image of her selling beetle eyes as a shop clerk in Diagon Alley came into his mind. He could clearly see Cho's eternally sad face, almond brown eyes staring down at the floor. He remembered the tears that flowed from her porcelain skin, and onto his. God how I miss those tears! Harry thought as he drifted off to sleep.