Chapter 67: Planning Potters Death
Through the cold blistering Scottish night he flew his Firebolt, winds biting at his face, hands shaking from the cold, and he regretted not buying a pair of gloves while he was in London. From time to time he had to stop to warm up his frost covered glasses under his coat. The cold chilled him so much that he felt excessively sleepy. Was hypothermia setting in? Had he a wand he could have given himself a warming spell. It wouldn't have lasted long, but would have insured against hypothermia and frost bite, and made the trip much shorter. He needed to make it to the castle before dawn, before the sun came up, and it would be much more difficult to enter the grounds without being seen. How long had he been flying anyway, he wondered to himself. With all the stops to try and warm up it had taken quite some time. Every late night petrol station, or all hours café found him stopping in for coffee just to have a chance to recover from the freezing conditions. But the places to stop were now becoming few and far between, as he approached the Scottish Highlands. Soon he would be at Hogwarts, and as soon as he arrived back into his room he would wrap himself in the blankets like a cocoon, and get some well deserved rest.
~*~
One hour and two stops later Harry was now in the Highlands and the castle was in sight, just a mile ahead. A warm room with a soft pillow and warm blankets, and deep, deep sleep. Sleep Harry thought drowsily. He put his broom into a slight dive towards the Gryffindor tower, his plan to knock on the window to gain access. He was now only a few meters from the window of his dorm room, almost there. Suddenly he stopped dead, zapped by a tremendous shock of electricity as blue lightning sparked all around him, his body shook uncontrollably, and he began to fall. He and his broom began spiraling down to earth, with no wand to make a cushioning blow; he was almost doomed to hit the ground with a fatal splat! He grabbed for his broom falling beside him, and mounted it just in time to stop mere centimeters above the ground. It took a moment to recover from the shock, but he did.
Harry then remembered that you could not fly into Hogwarts without permission. And lately he guessed that there had been extra security measures in place to keep Voldemort and his Death Eaters out. He would have to wait until morning. It was going to be Saturday and the students would be let out for a Hogsmead trip. He could walk through the front gate when it was opened. He just had to wait. Wait in the cold, no wand, or lighter or matches to make a fire. Wait in the cold for morning light. At sometime in the night Harry passed out.
~*~
Harry awoke to voices of other students exiting the castle he was leaning against a tree, out in the open where they would soon be able to see him. Harry was numb all over, the voices of his fellow students were blurred, as if he were hearing them in slow-motion. They would be upon him soon, and he would have to explain why he was out of his holding room if he didn't use the Polly-juice potion soon. Harry fumbled to open his coat, but he could not manage it easily. He could not feel his hands, and to his horror his fingers had become very stiff, as if frozen. He fumbled for the bottle of potion and attempted to open it. He couldn't. Harry then concentrated on the bottle, focusing on it with all his might. The lid began to unscrew through his sheer willpower, finally popping off into his lap. Harry put the bottle to his lips, put his head back and turned it upside down to let the liquid inside flow down his throat so that he could again take on the persona of Ron Weasley. However… nothing happened. Harry then slightly stuck his tong down the bottle, feeling Ice on its tip. Great! He thought, Frozen Polly-juice potion. I didn't even know it could freeze. He thought bitterly to himself. He could barely remove the bottle from his lips because they had nearly frozen to it. He started to pass out again as Neville Longbottom, and some other students came over to him.
"Harry?! Are… are you ok?" Neville asked. Harry never had a chance to answer him, as he slipped into unconsciousness.
~*~
Marietta, Allen Miller and two prefect boys accompanied Mr. Smith down the corridor that led to the room that was guarded by Mr. Primfold. They walked with intent, irritated expressions on their faces. Mr. Primfold looked up very surprised to see an angry look on Mr. Smith, and Mr. Millers face.
"Daffed, what's going on?" he asked curious. Mr. Smith pointed to the door of the holding room, and angry scowl on his face.
"Gordon is anyone in there with the boy?" he asked through gritted teeth. Primfold nodded.
"Yes, that Granger girl came to visit him about fifteen minutes ago." Marietta smiled to herself. Gotcha! She thought happily. It's going to be a wonderful day.
"Give me the keys, Gordon." Mr. Smith ordered. Gordon Primfold fumbled for the keys, as Mr. Smith turned to Allen Miller. Miller, knock on the door, and tell them to come out." He said. Marietta blocked Miller before he could reach the door. She turned to the door raising her wand.
"Why give them the advanced notice?" she said without looking back to anyone.
"Distructo!" She shouted, and blew away the part of the door with the lock, causing the door to swing open into the room. Marietta advanced first followed by Miller, Smith and the others. A shocked Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger sat up in the bed, both shirtless, Hermione holding the sheet over her breast. They had looks of shock on their face. Marietta noticed two sets of clothes on the floor next to them. Perhaps the shirts were not the only things they weren't wearing. Weasley glanced at something on the night stand and threw himself over Hermione Granger to try and grab it.
"Don't touch that Polly juice-potion Mr. Weasley. We already have Mr. Potter in custody, and we know your plan. You're both under arrest." Mr. Smith said pointing an accusing finger at the two. The faces of the two students were a mix of horror and embarrassment, and it caused Marietta's smile to widen.
"Please sir… we can explain… Hermione Granger said with eyes that were beginning to water. Ron reached down to get their clothes off the floor, but Marietta drew her wand, said a curse, and shot a wooden arrow from her wand and into the pile of cloths. Ron threw himself backwards on the bed.
"What the bloody hell was that for?" Ron asked.
"Miss Edgecombe, have you gone insane?" Mr. Smith asked shocked. Marietta turned to him with an innocent face, and spoke.
"Sorry Mr. Smith, I thought he was going for his wand. I mean didn't you say they were helping Potter? Didn't they help him to escape, a dangerous criminal like him?" Marietta asked in a sweet voice, so very much not like her character. Mr. Smith put his hand on her arm and lowered it. He turned to his associate, Mr. Primfold.
"Gordon… take their wands and Polly-juice potion before they get dressed." He said sternly. Gordon walked over and retrieved the items, putting them in his pocket, and returned behind Mr. Smith.
"I was just trying to get out clothes. What the hell?" Ron yelled angrily.
"Mr. Weasley as soon as we have your wand I assure you that no one will try that again." Mr. Smith said and then turned to Marietta. "Miss Edgecombe, try not to be so quick with the curses, we had you prefects come here to assist an arrest, not blast the suspects. And no one has been found guilty of anything… yet, so until they are don't make such clams against them. Marietta nodded her understanding. Mr. Smith looked back at Ron and Hermione. "Alright Mr. Weasley, you get dressed. Marietta, leave the room, no need to have a girl present while he is changing." Marietta spun around and started for the door, listening to Mr. Smith on the way out. "Miss Granger, you stay put, Professor McGonagall will be called to watch you change. Hermione nodded sheepishly, but Ron was fuming, his face matching the color of his hair.
"Why does anyone have to watch us change? Why can't you give us a moment of privacy?" Ron yelled hatefully. Marietta reached the door, but paused for a moment to listen to the conversation further.
"Mr. Weasley you have proven yourself undeserving of privacy. And we need to make sure you two don't have any weapons and other things to create more mischief." Mr. Primfold put in.
"I don't have any weapons of other things to create mischief!" Ron said bitterly.
"Well, I'm not about to take your word for it. Now get dressed!" Marietta watched Mr. Smith take a pair of iron hand restraints out of his pocket. He then looked back at her. "Miss Edgecombe, I asked you to leave while Mr. Weasley gets dressed, kindly do so." He said in an irritated tone. Marietta nodded and left the room, a smile on her face at the idea of Hermione Granger in irons.
~*~
Harry began to wake from his deep slumber, his pillow was soft, and the blankets over him were warm. Crust filled his eyes, and he attempted to bring his hand up to rub it away. But his wrist felt a sudden jerk, and he could not bring it all the way up. He sat up in bed and brought his other hand to rub his eyes. He looked around; he was in the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey talking to Mr. Smith to his left with their backs to him. His fingers were moist, and covered with bandages. He also found that his left wrist was chained to the bed with an iron hand restraint. This isn't good. He thought to himself. He looked over at Mr. Smith. Might as well let him know I'm awake.
"Mr. Smith." Harry called. Both he and Madam Pomfrey turned to him and walked over. Apart from the two of them he was the only person in the hospital room. Mr. Smith looked at him with an angry glare.
"What's going to happen to me sir? Will I get a chance to explain why I tried to leave? A chance to tell my side of the story?" Harry asked groggily.
"We put your two accomplices under Veritaserum potion. The already admitted about how you were going to see your girlfriend, and were planning on coming back after you were done. I suspect that's what you were trying to do last night. Wait until morning when the gates would be open. That's enough to clear you of an escape attempt, but your still in big trouble. You were ordered not to leave that room, and going to see your lover is no excuse to disobey Ministry orders, particularly since you've been held there for suspicion of commission of a crime, of murder no less. More charges will be added to the ones already against you."
Harry's eyes lowered, and he spoke softly.
"What… what about my friends? What about them. If you gave them Veritaserum potion than you know that they knew I was coming back, they…"
"They broke the law, and helped you escape from Ministry custody. You have put them in serious trouble. I could have them sent to a juvenile facility for a year." Mr. Smith cut in.
"No sir, please." Harry pleaded. "It's my fault; I made them do it, I…"
"No Mr. Potter, we have our proof from the results of the Veritaserum and found them to be willing accomplices to your crime." Harry began to softly cry. "However Mr. Potter, as they are under age, and as they perhaps didn't really believe that you were attempting to escape, and as we have had several request for leniency from the staff. I've decided to leave the punishment up to the school board. Not, your head Master. He's been far too lenient on students in the past from what I've heard. It will be a council of teachers of the school, with the Head Master not involved. Both your friends may be expelled permanently." Mr. Smith finished. Harry began sobbing uncontrollably at the trouble he had gotten his friends into. "Expelled! Oh god no, what have I done? This can't be happening."
"You Mr. Potter have bigger things to worry about then that. You're escape from this castle weather you intended to return or not, shows that your not taking your confinement seriously, and as soon as you get over your frost bite which should be the day after tomorrow, were taking you to a cell in the Ministry of Magic, something we should have done much sooner I think." Mr. Smith finished. Harry looked up at him with tear filled eyes.
"Can… can I see my… friends again one more time before…" He began but was cut off.
"No, Mr. Potter, you've already proven that you can't be trusted with that." Mr. Smith said angrily.
"Well can I see Dumbledore…" Harry began, but again was cut off.
"No Mr. Potter, no more visitors. Madam Pomfrey will see to you healing, and Wednesday evening, we will be off.
"Wednesday?! I thought you said the day after tomorrow?" Harry asked confused.
"That is Wednesday, Mr. Potter. You've been unconscious for three days, part of the healing medicine for your frost bite, and part from exhaustion and hypothermia, so Madam Pomfrey tells me."
Harry laid back in his bed in shock. Three days! He though to himself shock. I've got to have received some damage from being out in the cold that long. I'm seeing things. Harry thought as he saw the door to the infirmary open, and then close again by itself, but no one came in or out.
~*~
The girl looked around both sides of the corridor. No one was around. She threw off her invisibility cloak, folded it and stuffed it in her pocket.
Wednesday evening, eh. Well Mr. Potter, your going to be in for a little surprise. She smiled to herself, as she headed down to her uncles office.
~*~
Later that night, Filches office:
Marietta, her Uncle Filch, and her Friends Danielle Forester and Pansy Parkinson were gathered in the room as Marietta repeated her plan to them.
"So we must all be ready. Pansy, you'll give the first signal, red, and Danielle as soon as you and Uncle Filch are in position, you give the second signal, green. Uncle Filch, when you go to night, don't forget to tell him to have four of his best men ready, and let him know I'll be arriving Tomorrow night. Any questions?" She asked.
Pansy raised her hand, and spoke.
"Are… are we really going to do this? Ki… kill Potter? What about the Ministry officials guarding him? They will not likely let harm come to him if they can help it, even if he is accused of murder." I mean… we could get caught. We could go to Azkaban for the rest of our…"
"You need not worry about that. You three are not going to have anything to do with it other than give the signals, when you do you and Danielle will return to your respective dorm Rooms, and Uncle Filch will go back and do some work in his office. From that point, you three have nothing to do with what happens next." Marietta assured them.
Danielle was next to raise her hand next.
"Yes?" Marietta asked.
"What will you be doing during all this?" she asked her friend. Marietta smiled.
"My responsibility requires me to take a more hands on approach. I'm going to be making sure thing go accordingly from the air. So I'll be out of class on Wednesday, making sure that Potter will be out of our hair for good. You don't need to know the details, just everyone be ready when the time comes." Marietta said. She turned to Filch and handed him a rolled piece of parchment.
"Uncle, it is vital that you take this message to Professor Watson tonight, this is a very important task. Please convey to him the plan to the Professor making him understand that the time has finally arrived to take care of our final major obstacle in the way of a pureblood reformation. Filch took the parchment with a shaky hand.
"Is it… is it really necessary to kill the boy?" Filch asked. Marietta looked at him with a frown.
"You said… that you would do anything for the society and that advancement of our race. You took the oath, have you forgotten already?" Marietta asked. Filch stood up strait, and lifted his head up high.
"I haven't forgotten. Very well, if it's necessary, than this is the end of Harry Potter, and the beginning of a new age. I'll not fail in my mission." Filch said proudly. Marietta smiled.
"Good, now go, and here, have a bottle on me while you're in Hogsmead." Marietta said putting some galleons in her uncle's hand. "For after you talk to the professor. It'll calm your nerves." Filch nodded, and left out the door to go to Hogsmead. She turned to her two friends, with a smile. The two of you better get to bed. There's nothing more for tonight. Just don't discuss this with anyone else, even if they are in the society. Padma and Danielle nodded, and said their goodbyes. Marietta locked the door behind them.
She then walked to the adjacent door to her Uncles office, where her lover awaited her in the form of a naked Semis Finnegan. The fireplace was aglow with burning logs, and a bottle of wine and some champagne glasses sat ready for her. She noticed that his fingers were bandaged. He smiled at her and held up the bottle.
"To celebrate our victory, on Wednesday." He said. Marietta looked at him, as she sat down.
"A little early to celebrate." She said guarded.
"Oh, you don't have confidence in the plan? It was your idea." He said.
"I do have confidence in the plan, but I'm cautious. I have to be. This is as you said my plan. If it succeeds I'm elevated to a high status in the society. If it fails… well, it won't fail, but I'm going to save the victory celebration until after he's passed." She replied. Her lover poured the two glasses and each took one.
"Well than… to us." He said. They clinked their glasses together.
"To us." Marietta said back. She then took another look at the bandaged fingers of her lover. "You going to tell me about you fingers?" she asked." He healed them in front of his face, turning his hand in amusement.
"Semis is going mad. All this time with no human contact has driven him to it. He's trying to claw his way out of the room by attempting to dig himself out with his fingernails." Hs said. Marietta's' eyebrow lifted up.
"But that's a brick room from floor to ceiling!" she said surprised. He lover smiled.
"Did I mention he was mad? I don't think he's going to last much longer. You may have to get me another body soon. Guess I'll have to find another pureblood that we can throw down in that dungeon, so that I can imitate him for your sexual pleasure." He said joking. Marietta laid against him, taking his arm and wrapping it around him.
"I guess you will." She said, not joking.