Harry stifled a yawn as he walked along the corridor on the first floor. Tom stayed in the Chamber of Secrets to do his readings, while Harry had every intention to catch up on sleep. There were no classes on Saturday, so he made his way to the dungeons. He would miss breakfast, which wasn't ideal because he skipped yesterday's dinner too, but he could sleep through it till lunch, or dinner. He was about to round the corner, when he was almost knocked out by Fred and George, who ran into him with wide eyes.
"Harry!" They both exclaimed, and Harry regarded them, taking notice of relief mixed with panic seeping through their wide eyes.
"We won't ask what you were doing in the girls' bathroom-"
How did they know?
"But you have to help us!"
He could tell they weren't joking, and something grave must have happened. Not acknowledging their comment on his whereabouts, he simply said, "Okay."
They led him to the hospital wing, where the gravity of the situation was confirmed, it was almost tangible and reflected on the faces of all the Professors crowding the room, which in itself was already not a good sign. He didn't like how everyone looked at him. Harry was glad he had the foresight to change into his school uniform already. It only proved that one cannot be too careful if he can help it.
"Mr Potter, good to see you finally made it. Is everything alright?" Despite the polite words, Professor McGonagall sounded strained. Snape's black eyes bored into him, while Dumbledore smiled, yet it did nothing to soften his features. Harry checked his mental shields, preparing to construct an excuse. Professor Macmillan only sent him a contemplative sideways glance.
Harry nodded, reassuring McGonagall, and it was the mediwitch, Madam Pomfrey, who addressed him next.
"Mr Potter, would you please come here? We would appreciate your assistance."
She stepped from the curtains of a hospital bed, opening them widely. He recognised Ginny Weasley who appeared to be sleeping, but her face was contorted in pain. She splattered, coughing out blood, and Madam Pomfrey returned to her side. Harry frowned, were those flower petals scattered around? As he got closer, he noticed Ron, who sat on the bed next to Ginny's, and was shooting Harry fleeting glances, seemingly torn with conflicting emotions.
Harry stopped beside Ginny's bed, and Pomfrey motioned to the chair, so he sat. He didn't understand what was going on and why he was called in here.
Once Harry was briefed on everything that transpired, he still didn't understand. But he had a very simple thought, and he voiced it out loud.
"Can't she just… stop feeling?"
When no one answered, he looked around only to see everyone eyeing him strangely and sharing looks between themselves. Maybe he could have phrased it better, but he wasn't in the mood to play in pleasantries.
Madam Pomfrey offered him a tired smile.
"That's not how these things usually work, isn't it?"
Ron didn't sleep at all last night, too terrified and worried about Ginny. Yesterday she got worse, the bloody flowers started piercing through her chest, right over the heart. Only quick reflexes and experience of Madam Pomfrey made her state stable again. It was a nightmare.
The Professors left for the night, so did the twins. A couple of students who also were present, sported only minor injuries, so they were promptly released from the hospital wing, their expressions betrayed a horrified shock, something everyone must have felt witnessing such a gruesome sight. Pomfrey advised Ron to sleep, but he just couldn't. He couldn't take his eyes off of Ginny, and he strained his ears for every single breath she took.
Somehow, Ginny managed to sleep through the night, only having severe episodes several more times, but Pomfrey was alert and ready.
In the break of dawn, Severus Snape brought the antidote, but whether it would work remained to be seen. Ginny's whole body relaxed, and after a couple of diagnostic spells Madam Pomfrey determined that the antidote was working, but it could take time to completely stop all the symptoms. From time to time Ginny even regained consciousness, opening her eyes briefly, and it was supposed to be a good sign.
Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall and Macmillan returned after breakfast. They were pleased to hear about the antidote, but since Ginny still experienced an occasional flower leaving her body, causing her to bleed, they all agreed to go back on the idea of bringing Harry Potter. No one had any solid idea on how exactly this could help, but Madam Pomfrey believed a simple conversation or even his presence could make all the difference.
The twins took this moment to pop in, shaking their heads stiffly. They relaxed hearing the news that Ginny was getting better. They came over to Ron and whispered in his ears that Mum sent a howler, and she was ready to march into the school then and there, but apparently Albus Dumbledore advised her to wait as to not disturb Pomfrey's work. It didn't look like the twins got any sleep either, but they managed a stressed smile before resuming their search for Potter. Why was it so hard to find him anyway? Ron frowned, just as McGonagall expressed the same concern.
"I take it he wasn't in the Slytherin dormitories, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"No." Snape looked more pinched than usual, his arms crossed, but Ron couldn't find it in himself to hate the man like he did before. After all, he saved Ron's life, and now, hopefully, Ginny's too.
They all expressed different concerns, since Potter wasn't at breakfast too. Shouldn't they involve a more serious search party, and wasn't it a bit suspicious? Dumbledore suggested not to jump to conclusions, and promised to take matters into his own hands if the twins' next attempt remained unsuccessful.
Luckily, moments later the twins brought Harry, who seemed confused, but otherwise there was nothing unusual about him. Not that he'd seen Potter since their duel, and wasn't it a strange thought. Why was Ron so adamant on becoming Harry's friend in the first place? It's not like he missed seeing Harry or talking to him, he only felt somewhat guilty and ashamed for his previous behaviour fuelled by unreasonable anger. Ron wanted Harry to be his friend, but did he even want himself to become a friend to Harry?
It wasn't important right now.
Ginny stirred some time after they explained everything to Harry, her eyes immediately trailed to him, and she even attempted to sit up.
"There, there, sweetheart, don't strain yourself." The mediwitch helped her, conjuring more pillows to make her comfortable.
Ginny coughed, letting out a small petal, but at least there was no blood. Pomfrey checked on her, waving a wand, and let out a satisfied hum.
"You are all better, dear." She glanced at Harry and back at Ginny thoughtfully, suggesting kindly. "Why don't you two have a chat, alright?"
She joined other Professors who collectively moved to the farther side of the room giving a semblance of privacy, even though they still could be listening in, Ron was sure. No privacy charms were thrown. The twins also scrambled towards an empty bed several rows from Ginny's. Ron himself pulled a curtain around his bed, only leaving a small crack, just enough to still peek at the two.
The silence was deafening, Ginny looked torn and Harry… there was not an ounce of worry as he sat there, almost relaxed and completely calm. Now that he was closer, Ron could see that Harry was very pale and there was a strain around his eyes, like he hadn't had a good night's sleep either. Eventually, Harry was the one to break the silence.
"So, you are in love with me." He stated bluntly, and Ron cursed. Who says it like that? Harry didn't wait for a confirmation. "Why?"
Ginny took a deep breath, fiddling with a blanket nervously, looking at her fingers. She opened her mouth, and closed it again, but then managed to start in a low voice.
"You are kind… you…"
"How could you know if I'm kind?"
Ginny's eyes fluttered in surprise as she stared at Harry.
"I… I know you are… you helped Luna." She bit her lip, averting her eyes. "Do you… do you like her?"
"I helped Luna because she was bullied, and it's wrong."
Ginny nodded slightly, accepting it as an answer, even though it was to a different question she didn't ask.
"You helped Neville too, before. When he lost his Remembrall. He told me…"
"Malfoy was being mean to him for no reason." Harry cut in, and Ron started to get the idea that maybe Harry wasn't particularly kind after all.
He seemed to hate bullies, though. Now that Ron thought about it, he didn't notice Harry being all that close to Malfoy, at least from what he remembered of the first year and part of the second one. With a start, Ron realised that he must have screwed himself over more than he thought, since he was mean to Neville for no reason too. Shame burned with new intensity, but he kept it to himself. This conversation wasn't about him.
"But you also helped him with Potions," Ginny must have found some courage because she was finally speaking normally, and not like a stuttering mess.
Harry only hummed, not agreeing or disagreeing, as if it wasn't an important point at all, and Ginny once again lost any confidence, but she still continued.
"You're so brave, you are a hero…"
Ron wanted to put a pillow over his head, barely able to withstand the second-hand embarrassment.
Harry shook his head. "Who told you that?"
And Ginny gaped. "Everyone knows that. Ever since I can remember, I was told stories about you. You defeated You-Know-Who. All the newspapers write about it… You are as brave as your parents were, of whom we are all so proud…"
Her voice returned some strength as she went on.
"You," Harry started, then clarified, "All of you made up a fairytale with me as the main character and forgot to tell me. I never knew my parents. I haven't seen or heard of a single newspaper you mention until I entered the wizarding world, nor was I privy to any stories or had any idea about anything concerning Voldemort."
Ron flinched at the name, so did Ginny, and there was a pause before Harry continued.
"While you created and told stories about me, I lived my life completely unaware, and never viewed myself as a hero."
"When you say, until you entered the wizarding world…"
"After I received my Hogwarts letter. My Aunt told me about the magical world a year before that, when she couldn't cope with the loss of her son and husband. But what could she know about anything going on here? And for years till then I was made to believe that my parents died in a car crash, because my father was a drunk."
There was a collective gasp from the far side of the room. Yeah, they were definitely listening. Ron stared at Harry too, now looking at him with a different perspective. Potter's voice was cold and cutting.
"Whatever you learned before, you must realise, it's not automatically the truth. We never really talked until now, you fell in love with an impression of me, you know nothing of who I really am."
Ginny's eyes welled with tears, and small flowers fell down her cheeks. But the antidote seemed to be working, her current state was certainly an improvement. She stopped coughing at least, which was a small mercy.
"But…" She sniffed. "Mother told me that I'll be marrying a prince when I grow up."
Oh, Ginny. Ron did cover his face with a pillow at that, containing a groan.
"Who could be the prince if not the Boy Who Lived?"
"Ginny." Harry's voice was still too cold for Ron's liking given the situation, but he also talked with surprising patience, and his words were sobering. "I'm not a hero you imagine me to be, and certainly not a prince. I'm sure you will find someone more suited for that role." He seemed to contemplate his words before adding. "The thing is, Ginny, I would never care for you."
Holy shit, Ginny only barely woke up, Ron wouldn't ask for worry, but Potter yet to even acknowledge her condition. Damn, even Snape looked somewhat concerned despite all his grumpiness. Meanwhile, Harry only stabbed nail after nail into her fragile heart. Couldn't he spare the poor girl? Ron pulled out his bed curtain, not able to stay silent anymore. "That's actually a pretty harsh thing to say!"
"Ron!" Ginny gulped, startled. Her face was flushed red and streaked with tears.
He sent Potter an angry look, crossing his arms. "This slithering git doesn't deserve any of your feelings, Ginny! Not a single tear."
Potter looked back at him with that irritating calmness, and Ron huffed. In all honesty, he could see why Potter would say so. Ginny was Ron's sister, and of course he cared for her and felt righteous anger towards any who hurt her. But for Potter, she must be no one, just a girl with a crush out of the blue. Merlin, he knew himself that dealing with Ginny in her lovesick state wasn't easy. The fact that Potter already took his time to talk to her was shocking, and the things she said… the things Ron always assumed about Potter too, seeing him only as the Boy Who Lived and whatever newspapers or Dumbledore said. For Harry, it was probably insulting.
It really looked quite bad, that Ginny never cared to get to know Harry as a person, to learn who he really was instead of dreaming about an imaginary character. Ron was just like Ginny in that regard, he wanted the Boy Who Lived to be his friend, it sounded cool, and he imagined this great friendship and heroic adventures. But he never even tried to see Harry as a separate individual, removed from his status, fame and public image.
Ron knew nothing of what it actually meant to be so famous, but even he should have known better than to believe everything other people said about someone. The Weasley family was often talked about through the lens of old prejudices, not in the least flattering. While everyone talked about Potter favourably, a noble brave hero, all the things Ron wanted to be, all the things he envied, he couldn't imagine that someone wouldn't want to be like that, that those things could be untrue. It was a mistake to forget there was a real person underneath it all. With what Ron had to go through in recent months thanks to Lockhart, he already had a fair share of disappointment in heroes. He should have known that really, newspapers could lie, and popular opinion could be wrong.
Ginny was crying silent tears, red from embarrassment. Harry stood up, and Ginny looked up, desperate to catch his eyes. He seemed not to look anywhere as he said, unexpectedly, "You should listen to your brother."
Harry was about to leave, making Ginny sob her feelings out even more, not wanting it to be the final words between them. He turned to look at her again, now with complete focus on her, so intense and burning that Ginny held her breath, eyes wide.
"What you did was dangerous and foolish. What you hoped to do is outrageous. It wasn't an act out of love, but out of entitled egoism and misconception. You could have put me in danger too, you wished to rob me of my free will, to force the feelings I never had. I won't say I'm glad how it turned out, but I am glad your initial plan didn't work. Would you be able to live with yourself if it did?" His voice was collected, not at all reproaching, but it still sent shivers down Ron's spine. "As I said, I could never care for you. Not in a way you expect. And I hope you realise that you as well never cared for me."
With that, Harry tore his gaze from Ginny and went across the room towards the doors. He stopped when McGonagall motioned for him to stay, so he stayed. Ginny lost all the colour, her freckles standing out more than ever on her pale cheeks, tears now all dried out. The look on her face was one of pure shock and shame.
Harry didn't understand why he still had to stay, but he obliged and went over to one of the walls to lean on. He ignored a disapproving twinkle from Dumbledore. The conversation with Ginny was quite tiring, he knew he didn't have to be so hard on her, but she needed to hear all of this. His words were only truthful, and the sooner she lost her delusions about him, the better.
He observed from his spot as Professors, the mediwitch, and the twins all surrounded Ginny fussing over her. Ginny was already recovering, but they still had to find out what exactly happened. No one commented on their conversation, since they weren't supposed to be listening in.
They inquired about how she felt, if anything hurt and the like. Ginny answered that she felt fine. Physically, at least. Madam Pomfrey checked on her, waving the wand, and confirmed a significant improvement. When everything kicked in, Ginny suddenly looked scared and awkwardly inquired if she was going to be punished.
"Ginny, we are not going to punish you, we are very happy that you are out of danger." McGonagall reassured and Ginny relaxed.
"But we need to know how this happened and who is responsible." Professor Macmillan added, causing Ginny to tense up again.
"Did you do something with the potion yourself?" Professor Snape asked the most obvious question.
Ginny shook her head. "No… I…" She blushed, almost on the verge of tears again.
"It's okay, sweetheart." Pomfrey encouraged softly. "Can you tell where you got the potion?"
Ginny looked unsure.
"You know, who did this, right?"
A nod.
"Please, Ginny, don't try to cover for someone. What they did was very dangerous."
"And stupid!" Fred shouted, ignoring the looks the Professors sent the twins. Some of them still suspected it was their fault.
"What?" The twins crossed their arms in perfect sync.
"We told you we had nothing to do with this."
"You can give us the truth serum."
"And we'll prove it!"
"We cannot administer Veritaserum to a minor, Mr and Mr Weasley." Macmillan said matter-of-factly.
Ginny's eyes widened at the exchange.
"I…" She started. "I… it was…" She glanced guiltily at Ron and the next words were so quiet that everyone had to strain to hear.
"What was that?" Pomfrey asked gently. "Can you repeat, dear?"
"It was P-professor…" her voice was still quiet but now everyone heard. "Professor Lockhart."
Somehow, Harry wasn't at all surprised. Others let out gasps of shock and anger.
"What?!" Ron cried bewildered.
"I'm sorry, Ron." Tears now fell down her cheeks. "He said that he perfected the potion, so anyone with hopeless love could have a hope…"
"Blimey, Ginny! And you believed him?!"
"I wanted to believe him! I knew he was at fault for what happened to you, but anyone makes mistakes, and Mum still thinks he's a true hero… And I just… I really wanted to believe…"
Ginny sobbed and Ron's face was red with fury, but he looked at Ginny with gentle pity, his eyes also began to water.
"But why would he do this?" he rasped.
"Why don't we ask Professor Lockhart himself?" Snape suggested.
"We need to seize him immediately." Professor Macmillan said resolutely, and was fast to follow up on her words, striding to the doors with amazing speed, set on apprehending the man.
Fred and George shared extremely pissed off looks, and ran after her.
Minutes ticked, the silence only disturbed by little sobs coming from Ginny. McGonagall looked very tired, and she sat on the conjured chair with a sigh. Dumbledore remained standing, with a troubled look on his face. Snape was frowning, which wasn't all that unusual, and Madam Pomfrey stepped out into her side room.
Professor Macmillan returned, her back straight, gone was the softness with which she spoke as a Professor, she was in a full mode of a Ministry official.
"Mr Gilderoy Lockhart is absent. His room appears to be vacated, he wasn't in the DADA office either, and he wasn't seen in the Great Hall. I sent a Patronus after him, warning that hiding and resisting will be taken as an admission of guilt, and an owl to inform the Aurors of the current situation. He will be put on the wanted list…"
She didn't get to finish as the doors opened with a bang, the twins stumbled gracelessly, the brooms clattering to the floor behind. Were they racing all the way through the corridors? In between they held Lockhart by the arms, who was totally out of it.
Every eye immediately trained on them, and McGonagall shot up from her seat. "Whatever happened to him?"
"Nothing," Fred's eyes burned with rage.
"Just a stray bludger." George supplied, he looked no less furious.
"He was very suspiciously sprinting towards the Hogwarts gates."
"With the luggage and all."
"Very well. Thank you, Mr and Mr Weasley."
Macmillan took out her wand and didn't hesitate to incapacitate the man, binding him to the chair with a swift Incarcerous.
Madam Pomfrey approached, holding out a small vial of potion to Professor Macmillan, who nodded and looked pointedly at the twins.
"Fortunately, we can administer Veritaserum to an adult." She waved her wand again, and a scroll of parchment appeared in the air with a self-writing quill.
"Rennervate." She pointed at Lockhart, and not waiting for him to fully awake began to dictate to the quill.
"May 8, 1993, 10:09 AM. An interrogation of Mr Gilderoy Lockhart on a suspicion of deliberately or accidentally putting a Hogwarts student in severe and fatal danger, namely, Ginevra Weasley, 11 years of age, in the presence of Senior Investigator Yvonne Macmillan from the Department of Law Enforcement, by administering three drops of Veritaserum."
Lockhart was blinking blearily, but his eyes widened when he heard the last statement, "W-what?" But before he could resist, his jaw was forced open and three drops of crystal clear potion dropped on his tongue.
His eyes glazed, and Macmillan waited for a full minute, then started questioning. Simple questions at first, his name, date of birth, occupation, to check if the potion worked.
"Mr Lockhart, do you recognise this vial?" She showed him the one that was found in Ginny's pocket.
"Yes."
"Did you give it to Miss Ginevra Weasley?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"I needed to test the result, and she was practically asking for it."
"How did you get this potion?"
"This was easy." He puffed up his chest in spite of the binds. "Just dissolved the flower candy in Amortentia."
Professor Snape ran a hand over his face in exasperation, Harry could sympathise, the very idea sounded so stupid, it wasn't even funny.
"And why did you do it?"
"It was just a thought, a fit of ingenuity, really. Since I needed to melt the candy anyway, I could as well try adding it to other substances."
"For clarity, we are talking about the candy that reacts to emotions producing flowers, created by the Weasley twins, is that correct?"
"That's the one. But who can prove the Weasley twins created it?"
"For what purpose did you need to melt it?"
"To reverse engineer the recipe behind that lovely candy of course."
"What do you mean there is no proof of who created it?"
"Buh! No licence no proof, I could claim to be the sole creator behind it. All I needed was the recipe."
"What was your goal with claiming the rights to the recipe?"
"Money and fame, what else? The flower candy, such a brilliant creation, would fly off the shelves in no time!"
"Couldn't you ask the Weasley twins for the recipe?"
"I could, but I would have to share, would I? And I couldn't risk obliviating someone at school, sometimes mental magic goes wrong and they die, it would have been a disaster."
"What do you mean they die?"
And just like that Lockhart spilled all of his secrets, practically twisting his tongue at the influence of Veritaserum, disclosing numerous cases of fraud, stealing stories of heroic adventures from others, obliviating them afterwards, which in four out of ten instances resulted in death. Yvonne Macmillan meticulously asked pointed questions to figure out the names of Lockhart's victims to build the full picture of his crimes and see if anyone might need medical attention. All in all, she wanted to make sure justice was served.
Ron was seething as he listened to all the careless actions carried out by Gilderoy Lockhart. He knew the man was a fraud and dangerous, but people actually died! It made him feel like he dodged a bucket, or whatever the muggle saying was that his father liked to repeat. And as he looked at his sister, he was truly grateful that they both only ended up with injuries and compromised health, with no permanent damage. They both could have easily become fatal victims of idiocy. This man had to be put down, and Ron hoped he'll get what he deserved by the law. While some of his crimes could be dismissed as honest mistakes, and obliviating wasn't as serious a crime as to warrant Azkaban, the murders, however accidental, were bound to put him there for life.
At some point the Aurors arrived along with his parents. They quickly gathered what was going on and didn't interfere with the interrogation, although several times his mother had to be held down as she got more furious with each word she heard. As soon as Yvonne Macmillan put down the quill, sealing the document and handing it to one of the Aurors, Molly wrangled herself from Arthur's arms and rounded on bleary-eyed Lockhart.
"You disgraceful mongrel!" She shouted and slapped him hard across the face, leaving a furious red mark on his cheek. "You dared to use my daughter as a test subject!"
But there was no use in shouting at the man, doused with a truth serum. He was taken by the Aurors, and Molly sank on one of the beds, crying her eyes out. Arthur sat beside her, offering comfort. It was delightful to watch that finally his mother could see reason, but at the same time Ron couldn't help but feel dejected, like he wasn't the favourite child of the family.
"My poor baby," Molly cried as she came over to Ginny, holding her hand. "You too, Ron, I'm so sorry." She took his hand too, her eyes filled with tears and Ron couldn't hold his own anymore.
"I assure you, Mr and Mrs Weasley." Came a steady voice of Yvonne Macmillan. "That Gilderoy Lockhart will get a deserved punishment. Already, the crimes he confessed warrant a life sentence in Azkaban. I will oversee the case myself, and will make sure justice is served for every victim. While monetary value cannot be equated to human life, the financial compensation would be also in order. Mr Lockhart will reimburse to every family he wronged or put in danger, including yours."
Something heavy dropped in Ron's chest at that. While he always dreamt of wealth and money, he never would have chosen to get them this way. It seemed wrong, but at the same time, like hell they were going to refuse. That bastard screwed their lives already, Ginny might still need medical attention, and really, at this point Ron was just so, so angry. The only thing that settled his fuming emotions was glee at the knowledge that Lockhart would get his punishment in Azkaban.
Harry watched the emotional chaos ensuing among the redheads with mild detachment, he could understand why they were all so distressed. The Professors too expressed no less amount of distress, disgust, or mortification at the truths revealed, but at least, Lockhart got what he deserved and there was no way to shy away from his apparent incompetence and disastrous actions anymore.
What picture would it paint about the heroes so worshipped by society? Harry's eyes wandered to Professor Dumbledore, whose face expressed a complicated unease. Even though the rumoured curse on the Defence position seemed to be at work, the Headmaster will have to take at least partial responsibility for allowing such a man to teach at Hogwarts. Especially after one of the students was already put in mortal danger before, which was blatant negligence. Harry hoped the newspapers won't be kind to the old man in this story.
When Mrs Weasley's sobs quieted down, she stood and suddenly turned to Professor Snape, a stifled silence followed as everyone held their breaths anticipating a scene. Snape lifted his chin in defiance, prepared to face whatever the witch threw at him. They watched each other, but then with tears in her eyes, Molly pulled the startled man into a hug. Snape went stiff as a board. It was brief, but enough for everyone around to gape with varying degrees of shock. Probably only years of maintaining his composure allowed Snape to stay still, not showing anything on his face.
"Thank you, Severus." Molly cried. "You saved my children. If it wasn't for you… If you didn't make the antidote so quick, my Ginny…" She blew her nose into a handkerchief, her voice shaky. "And my Ron… I heard if it wasn't for you… We owe you, Severus." She looked him in the eye seriously.
Uncomfortable with the whole deal, Snape held up his hand, stopping her from any further ramblings. "Just keep that in mind next time we have a disagreement, I won't ask for more."
Molly nodded with resolve, and Harry could see the corners of Snape's lips turn slightly upwards.
Professor Macmillan cleared her throat, once again making everyone focus on her.
"Now that that's settled, there is another issue that has to be brought to attention." Her gaze locked on the twins. "Mr and Mr Weasley, my duty dictates to inform you that distribution of uncertified artefacts, potions, or food items is illegal."
The twins' eyes widened, not expecting to be reprimanded at this point.
"Are we going to be expelled?" They looked panicked, their eyes jumping from one Professor to another. McGonagall seemed the most uncomfortable.
"Now, Yvonne, I'm sure we can let the issue slide just this time." Dumbledore intervened.
Macmillan pursed her lips, but her eyes softened as she said, still addressing the twins.
"You are lucky that nothing serious happened to your sister, and the antidote was found. But your invention wasn't supposed to go around the school at all."
"It wasn't supposed to be harmful!"
"You saw for yourself what can happen if anything goes wrong. I can understand the notion, when it's all just harmless fun and I can make an exception this once, assuming your ignorance, as it seems, no one cared to inform you." Her eyes strolled over to the rest of the Professors. "I closed my eyes myself for as long as the jokes never went too far. Since it was my mistake as well, we can put your previous endeavours behind, but I have a duty to put a stop to it from now on. If you are caught again with spreading illegal items among students, or anyone, really, you'll be brought into the Law Enforcement office and will face the appropriate charges."
The twins stayed silent. It was clear they wanted to argue, as shocked as they were, but there was no argument left with how final Macmillan's words sounded.
"But, Professor…" George whispered, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. Fred looked desperately for any support from other Professors or his parents, but they were clearly put to shame themselves for not stopping the twins before, Snape actually looked pleased, and Molly only shook her head while Arthur sighed heavily.
"No buts." Macmillan's voice was stern. "Without any supervision and official permit, you aren't allowed to distribute anything. And it so happens, you aren't protected by the law in the slightest, either. If Gilderoy Lockhart were to be more successful in his machination, he could have easily credited your product as his own creation and be in the right. You haven't registered it, so you would've had no proof. While it could be disputed, the law wouldn't be on your side in this case. Since you breached the law, the claim of ownership would have been the least of your concerns."
The twins gulped, looking very pale. The realisation of what could have happened shook them to the core.
George worried his lips, thinking it over. He sounded unsure. "So if we were to register the items…"
"We'd be allowed to continue as we did?" Fred finished the thought, with a hopeful lilt.
Macmillan sighed.
"Not quite. You will have to go through regulations and expertize first so that your products are approved by the Ministry. With the nature of the products, you will require to open up a business first. Mr Lockhart already had his publishing company, and he could have extended his licence with no trouble."
"Then…" The twins exchanged a look, but shook their heads as if dismissing the thought. To open any business, they would need at least a thousand galleons or an equivalent as a collateral to get a loan.
McGonagall stepped forward. "You are talented young men, just focus on your studies for now. No one can forbid you from experimenting and creating." She glanced at Macmillan, who nodded. "But you must refrain from spreading the products from this point onward."
Snape huffed. "It was long overdue, anyway. Hogwarts isn't a place for silly pranks."
Fred and George looked pained.
"But how are we supposed to open a business if we don't collect enough galleons?"
"This was our only source of income…"
"Even then, we only managed to save up 37 galleons."
"A drop in the sea, when we need a thousand."
"If your parents aren't going to support you in this." And she gazed over at Mr and Mrs Weasley, who stiffened, clearly not ready to put out such a large number for the sake of the twins' creations everyone saw only as silly jokes. Even with the potential compensation they might receive from Lockhart, which was far from settled yet, they would certainly have better ideas on how to spend the money. The Weasleys lived in poverty for decades, throwing so much money even if they believed in their sons' success was too much.
Fred and George hanged their heads, clearly knowing all this. Harry knew a thing or two about their dream too, and now they lost even that little chance to turn the dream into a goal. Selling their products among students so far was bringing only a tiny income, but it was at least something, compared to completely cutting it off.
Macmillan continued, "Your only other option would be to find an investor."
"Who would invest in them?" Snape sneered, causing an uncomfortable silence to settle while the twins looked defeated.
"I would," Harry said loud enough, reminding everyone he was still there. All the eyes turned to him, as Harry walked closer to the group. They definitely weren't expecting him to speak, let alone to make such a statement.
The twins' jaws dropped as they regarded Harry with teary eyes, full of shock and hope.
"Just like that?" They wondered in astonishment.
"Not just." Harry shook his head, he was a Slytherin after all, not a charity box. "But after I see your business proposal in full detail, and the draft of a contract where my name is listed as a co-founder under 15 percent revenue."
Harry caught an approving look from Professor Macmillan. Just a few classes before, they were going over the business contracts and what to look out for while receiving a job offer in her 'History of Law' lessons. The material was there mostly for the sake of seventh year students, but she said it was never too early to consider additional sources of income, so she kept it for all years.
Harry was fully aware of his financial situation. He managed to gather from the reports on both his vaults that in total his parents left him roughly 20 thousand galleons, 1000 for each year of his life as a minor, and some extra. Since the money was barely touched for ten years that he lived with the Dursleys, he started off with more than enough to spare. Even with his generous spending, he still had over two thirds left, so an investment such as this wouldn't make a lot of difference for him. He could still spend money freely for years to come. Although he had no idea what was in the Potter vault outside his trust funds, and it wasn't in his nature to just assume there was limitless wealth awaiting him. So opening up the possibility for an additional income wasn't such an outlandish decision to make. Since he honestly believed the twins were capable of making profit with their ideas, it wasn't like Harry was throwing money away either.
The twins were still gaping, but then they managed to get a hold of themselves as they nodded frantically.
"You can expect the best business plan you'd ever see till the end of summer!"
"Thank you, Harry!"
They both jumped, hugging each other, still not believing what was happening.
Their grinning faces turned to McGonagall. "You can expel us now!"
"I will do no such thing." She frowned, but had a hard time containing a smile.
"This is all good and lovely." Macmillan also looked content with the turn of events. "But you cannot register a business until you pass at least your OWLs."
They dimmed a bit, but still smiled widely, already whispering to each other discussing their plans.
Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands cheerfully, sending Harry the most disgustingly bright twinkle yet.
"All's well that ends well. Since everything is settled." He turned to Professor Snape. "Severus, I trust you to fill in the Defence position for the remainder of the term."
Snape's face soured even more than it already was, but he nodded, deciding it was as good a time to leave. Harry caught him muttering something that sounded a lot like 'Bloody morons, the lot of them' under his breath, as he swished by.
Other Professors made to leave as well, only Dumbledore stopped at the door and looked back.
"Harry. There is something we're yet to discuss with you, my boy. I've been particularly craving a treacle tart lately."
Harry wouldn't mind having a treacle tart either, but he recognised a summoning to the Headmaster's office for what it was. Dumbledore has been leaving him alone all year round, and Harry wondered when the old man would make his move. He wasn't surprised that it happened now, since he was practically caught out of the dorms last night, and he wasn't naive enough to hope that Dumbledore would simply forget about it. Good thing that Harry already came up with several possible explanations, even if not particularly believable, even better that the truth serum couldn't be applied to the minor, and even better yet that Harry knew how to defend his mind against Legilimency.
He went after the Headmaster in a slow pace, not in a hurry for whatever discussion that awaited him.
"Psst." He heard the twins calling upon him as they motioned to the nearby empty classroom. Harry looked back and forth between them, but they only beckoned to follow them. Curiosity piqued, Harry did.
"As a gratitude for your generous offer," Fred started once inside.
"We bestow this holy object upon you." George procured an old piece of parchment.
"Do not judge the book by its cover." Fred's tone turned conspiratorial.
"You have to say-"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Fred tapped a wand to the parchment, and it transformed, revealing a detailed map of Hogwarts. Not only that, every single person was marked there as they moved about.
For a moment, Harry was speechless. So that's how they knew where to find him.
"Impressive, right? All the secret passageways are also there."
"We found it in Filch's office."
"The ultimate creation of legendary Marauders!"
They pointed at the signature, where four names of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs presented the Marauder's map.
Harry's eyes wandered through the map, it was extraordinary. It could have been so useful to him on so many occasions. It would still be very useful, for sure. Now that Harry had seen it, he won't give it back, even if the twins were to change their minds. His eyes fell onto the spot where they were standing in an empty classroom near the hospital wing.
"Huh." Harry stepped to the left, watching as his name on the map got closer to Fred. "So you are Fred." Even though there was a badge with a big G pinned to his robe. "And you are George." He pointed at the other twin.
The twins chuckled. "We could have never fooled you."
"Now, to make it blank again, you simply say-"
George tapped the map with the tip of his wand, and the twins chorused, grinning widely.
"Mischief managed."
Harry was confident in his Occlumency shields as he entered the Headmaster's office. For the past months, he improved significantly, managing to ward off his mind for prolonged periods of time, even learning some tricks he had yet to try on someone other than Tom. While it was possible for Dumbledore to use mind magic non-verbally and wandlessly, the spell could work with full potential only with the use of a wand and a chanted spell. Harry doubted Dumbledore would abandon all subtlety like that.
Up until now the old man kept his distance, but here they were. Harry refused a lemon drop, and Dumbledore sighed as if this alone deeply disappointed him.
"Harry, my boy. Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
"No." Which was a complete truth, he wouldn't even be here if he had a choice.
Dumbledore smiled thinly.
"Fred and George seemed quite troubled in their quest to find you."
Harry didn't look at Dumbledore, finding a newborn Fawkes crawling from the ashes to be a much more interesting sight. He tried to choose his words carefully.
"I have the Invisibility Cloak. You know that, sir."
"Ah. And you weren't in your dormitories all night."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Is there something troubling you, my boy?"
"No…" Harry held a pause before glancing back at Dumbledore. "Actually, yes." He decided to change his tactic, to give the man something.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with interest, and Harry made himself appear nervous.
"It's just the exams, sir. There's not much time left to prepare."
"A little more than a month." Dumbledore's smile widened. "I believe you'd find a kindred spirit in Miss Granger with that attitude."
Harry didn't answer, brushing at his hair sheepishly, hiding his eyes from the man. He was done listening to that sort of thing. "Would that be all, sir? Sorry, I'd like to return to my studies."
Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid, I'll be taking up some more of your time, Harry. But you are a capable young boy, I'm sure you won't struggle with the exams as much as you fear."
"Hope so."
Headmaster chuckled, but in the next minute his face turned contemplative, suddenly losing all its cheerfulness.
"Harry, I must say I'm sorry that we found ourselves on the wrong footing…"
Of course, he would be sorry to lose his influence.
"It's understandable, sir."
"I do not wish to create a further rift between us, Harry. You are an exceptional young boy, and you managed to exceed my expectations on numerous occasions so far."
"Thank you?"
Inwardly, Harry became unsettled. Something told him this wasn't leading to just one of Dumbledore's usual senile talks.
"Yet I'm still quite concerned about you. I'm sure Mr and Mrs Malfoy are respectable people, and they might be treating you well. But their connection to Voldemort still cannot be ignored…"
"Everyone makes mistakes."
"Wise words. You know it isn't too late to make a change in your guardianship. I will make sure to listen, and we'll choose someone…"
"No, sir. With all due respect, but you have no say in this anymore."
"True, Harry." Dumbledore looked pained as he admitted it. "But allow me to warn you once more about the Malfoys. When the time comes…"
"The time when Voldemort returns? You honestly believe that?"
The articles with such speculations never stopped, although they became sparse and people got used to the idea, finding the threat uncertain and ultimately deciding to ignore it altogether.
"Yes, my boy. I have a reason to believe he already did."
That, Harry wasn't expecting to hear.
"Really?"
Dumbledore appeared unsure whether to tell the next words to Harry, but Harry was quite sure Dumbledore already decided on what exactly to tell him.
"I recently had a chance to see the Dark Mark on one of his followers, whose identity shall remain anonymous for the sake of our agreement." Snape, certainly. "And its appearance is completely restored to the way it was before Voldemort was defeated."
Harry stared at Dumbledore, unblinking. It might be mistaken for shock, but Harry had only one question. Why didn't Snape tell him anything?
"So," Harry managed after some time of observing a deeply sad Headmaster. "You think Voldemort will go after me again?"
"That is what I am most worried about."
"Why would he want to kill me in the first place?"
The way Dumbledore talked, it really looked like he knew, there was a conviction in all his words. He attempted to smile to put Harry at ease, but his eyes weren't twinkling as usual, he talked seriously and maybe there was even a bit of desperation behind his demeanour.
"You are too young to be burdened with such a knowledge, Harry."
"But you know the reason."
"I do, Harry. And I still think it's too early for you to learn of the whole gravity of your situation…"
If he really thought so, he wouldn't be breaching the subject at all. Perhaps he really was desperate, because he wasn't a fool not to notice how Harry was slipping from whatever plans Dumbledore envisioned, and it was his last ditch he thought he could have over Harry.
"Not so young for people to burden me with hero status." Harry pushed, and there was something akin to guilt in Dumbledore's eyes, the conversation with Ginny clearly still fresh on his mind. "If anything, it's only fair for me to learn the full truth."
"Indeed, Harry, especially now that Voldemort most likely is back." Dumbledore nodded, resigned.
He stood up, and went over to the side room, soon returning with a stone basin.
"It's better I show you."
He placed the basin on the table, explaining what it was. A pensive, that allowed to view someone else's memories, as they swirled like a silvery liquid inside. Harry read about this object before, so he believed it wasn't a trap of some sort, as he dipped his head in the water.
When he emerged back, the first thing he saw were Dumbledore's pale blue eyes watching him expectantly. Harry looked back, blinking slowly, not entirely seeing. The words of a Prophecy still pounded in his mind, repeating over and over.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...
Harry slumped in the chair looking down, hiding his expression from Dumbledore. He clutched at the robe over his chest, the place where usually Tom's diary rested. The very image of stressed and overwhelmed, yet Harry was mostly confused.
"I knew it would be hard knowledge for you, my boy. But sooner or later you would have to know…"
"Is that why he tried to kill me? A Prophecy?"
"I'm afraid Voldemort only learned a part of the Prophecy, you must have noticed the commotion outside the room at one point as it was told. That was Voldemort's follower who was caught listening in, but he was quick to share the information with his lord. The Potters fitted the description. Longbottoms too, their family suffered great misfortune at the hands of the Death Eaters but Voldemort chose you to attack personally, as the prophesied child."
Harry leaned forward, rubbing at his forehead where the scar was, still not looking at Dumbledore. A Prophecy. A Prophecy? Not even fully heard or comprehended. And Tom… Voldemort acted like a madman he was, sealing the fate, choosing Harry, marking him with a scar, as equal? Leaving a piece of his soul behind, setting into motion the whole thing. Why would he even do this? If Voldemort never attacked the Potters, Harry would have no reason to defy him, even if he wasn't allied with Voldemort as he was now… who would be even insane enough to assume they can defeat the Dark Lord? Not to mention the horcruxes, Voldemort would only rise again and again. Why couldn't Tom see this clearly himself? Were Prophecies so significant and unavoidable? And Harry did vanquish Voldemort, in a way, the very night Voldemort tried to kill him.
"Can't it be that the Prophecy is already fulfilled?" Harry finally looked up at the old man, who was watching him attentively.
"That may be, but it matters not if Voldemort still believes otherwise. He will seek to finish what he started."
"So you think he won't rest until I'm dead?"
"That is what I fear. Voldemort might be quiet as of now, but we must plan…"
"If that is the case…" Harry interrupted, looking at a distance as if deep in thought, then he met Dumbledore's eyes who was holding his breath, and hope shone through. Harry was so glad he could shatter it in the bud. "I will just face and accept whatever happens." Not bloody likely. But of one thing Harry was certain, he wanted nothing to do with any of Dumbledore's plans.
"Harry…"
"Thank you, Headmaster, for informing me. It was a valuable insight. But nowhere in the Prophecy it says that I shall become a beacon of Light and fight as a hero against the Dark Lord."
"Doesn't it scare you at all, that Voldemort is after your life?"
Harry had already taken measures for not getting killed by Voldemort, not that Dumbledore needed to know. And while he certainly didn't want to die, there was also another truth. "Death doesn't scare me."
"I see…" Something settled on Dumbledore's face, as if these words calmed him immensely. "At least in that regard, you are nothing like Tom."
Harry contained a reflex to roll his eyes, instead looking towards the door. He was so ready to finish this conversation and leave already, but Dumbledore was still pulling out words that Harry couldn't possibly ignore.
"Tom?"
"Ah, yes. Tom Marvolo Riddle. That's what his name was before he became known as Lord Voldemort."
There was silence as Dumbledore awaited his reaction. If Harry didn't know this already, he would probably be extremely interested. He won't give Dumbledore that satisfaction.
"A fine name." He shrugged, and a disappointment dropped on Dumbledore's face for the millionth time. But the man didn't back down so easily.
"A name shared with his muggle father. You see, Tom was a halfblood just like yourself, that's why I think he chose you as his equal, and not a pureblood boy."
Harry remained silent, not quite sure what this knowledge was supposed to achieve.
"You are the prophesied child, Harry, someone with the power to defeat Voldemort. It is your destiny, something only you can do…"
"Why?"
Dumbledore spluttered, but quickly regained his composure. "Why, Harry, the Prophecy…"
"No, I mean. Even if all of this is true, the Prophecy, the power. Why do I have to use it to defeat Voldemort?"
"Surely, you understand that Voldemort is a great evil, and he must be stopped." Dumbledore frowned, and just briefly Harry felt a prickle of invasion into his mind. He shielded with an abstract fog of random thoughts.
"That may be true, but it's for me to decide how to use my power, not you, nor the Prophecy. Frankly, I don't believe in either Fate or Divination."
"I see the knowledge might be still too hard for you to fully accept." Dumbledore smiled, even the twinkles returned. Was he even listening? "We shall talk another time, Harry. Just think about it, my boy."
Harry leaned against the wall outside of Dumbledore's office, taking a moment to scrutinise the gargoyle. To think that so much information he sought was hidden behind it. Some of it had missed its mark, but still gave him an important piece of a riddle, along with all the more questions. Fortunately, Harry had his own Riddle who could clear at least some of his confusion.
In the end, Harry was the Chosen One. It didn't mean, though, that he couldn't be the one to choose.