Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four - Come and Go
"Who could have foreseen that my popularity would nearly end my life?" Blaise remarked pathetically.
He was propped against a pile of plump pillows. Gifts from his many admirers were piled on the nightstand beside him. There were large bouquets of exotic flowers, baskets of tempting fruits, and every variety of sweet one could purchase from Honeydukes. Any chocolates, however, had been summarily thrown into the trash.
"That box was meant for me," Draco reminded Blaise with an ironic smirk.
"Then you ought to be thanking him," said Millie, "Otherwise it'd be you lying in the hospital wing."
After Harry's quick thinking had rescued his friend from what would have been a swift and terrible death, Slughorn recovered his senses. He had the presence of mind to send for Madam Pomfrey, and Blaise had been carried off to the hospital wing, unconscious, but very much alive. The bezoar had worked, but further treatment would be needed to ensure that Blaise suffered no side effects.
His friends gathered around his bedside the following day, eager to wish him well, and to learn what exactly had happened. Draco had come to deliver his get-well present, a box of chocolate frogs, in person. He brought Ron and Theo along with him, and to Harry's great surprise, Hermione and Neville, as well.
Though Neville had joined readily into their conversation, Hermione had silently taken a seat by Millie's side. It wasn't until Millie made her remark to Draco that Hermione finally lifted her eyes and said, "I heard you used a bezoar to save him? That was very quick thinking."
She didn't smile, but Harry felt the tension in his chest loosen under her approving gaze. This was the reconciliation he had been anxiously waiting for. While he debated over how best to reply to this compliment, Ginny arrived, bringing Nell along with her.
Nell was looking rather pale and grave. In contrast, Ginny was positively bubbly as she dropped into an open seat between her brother and Draco, announcing loudly as she did, "Well, the entire school knows you were poisoned, but as usual, the details are a little vague."
Ron nodded his head in agreement with his sister. "She's right, you know. Everyone's saying it was a bad love potion that did it. Probably going to impact Fred and George's WonderWitch sales…"
"Which is why you can have these back," Blaise said, pushing the box of chocolate frogs back into Draco's lap, "I'm never taking chocolates from you, again!"
"It wasn't the chocolates that did it," Harry interjected.
Everyone's attention shifted from the invalid to Harry, though none were more interested to hear him speak than Nell. She tore her worried gaze away from Blaise to stare at Harry. Though she didn't say a word, her expression was begging for every detail.
Harry took a breath. He had already told the story several times over. But as Blaise was not yet tired of hearing how he had nearly met his end, he decided to explain once again.
"The chocolates contained a love potion, but it wasn't poisonous," he began, "I took Blaise to Slughorn for an antidote. Afterward, Slughorn offered us both a drink. That was when Blaise… Anyway, Slughorn had it tested after what happened. I heard him tell Dumbledore that it contained a crude, but very effective poison."
"So the poison was in the drink?" asked Theo, "Could Slughorn have poisoned it, himself?"
Harry shook his head. "He seemed pretty shocked. I don't think anyone can act that well. And anyway, he poured glass for all three of us. Blaise was just unlucky enough to drink his first."
"Then they must have wanted Professor Slughorn to drink it," said Neville, "But why would anyone want to kill him?"
"No…" said Draco slowly. He had been among the first to hear what happened from Harry when he returned to the dormitory late the previous night. He looked to him now for confirmation as he said, "Did he say it was a gift for Dumbledore? One he forgot to give him for Christmas?"
Harry nodded.
"So somebody is trying to poison Dumbledore," concluded Millie. "Pretty smart of them to try pinning the blame on Slughorn. If he'd actually given that bottle to Dumbledore, he'd probably be in Azkaban by now."
"But who'd be trying to kill Dumbledore?" asked Ron incredulously.
"I can think of one person," Harry remarked grimly.
They all knew he was referring to a certain dark wizard, though the expressions on their faces showed they were not convinced.
"But how would… How would You-Know-Who poison the drink?" Hermione said tentatively, "There's loads more security now, and even if he could sneak into the school, I doubt he would resort to something like poison…"
"I never said he'd do it himself," said Harry with a pointed look at Draco, "He wouldn't have to. Not if he already has a follower in the school to do his dirty work for him…"
"Not this again…" Draco muttered.
Before he or the others could beg Harry not to start on his theories regarding Goyle, the double doors of the hospital wing burst open, and the tall, hulking form of Hagrid lumbered into the room.
"I've jus' heard!" he cried. He must have run across the grounds and straight up the stairs, for he came in dripping water from his rain-flicked coat and was slightly out of breath. "Been in the forest all day! Aragog's worse. I was readin' to him. Didn' get back till jus' now, and then Professor Sprout told me… Blaise! You alrigh?"
"Yeah… Yeah, I'm good, Hagrid," Blaise replied, readjusting his pillows to sit up straighter. Harry could tell from the smile on his face that even he was touched to see Hagrid so worried for him.
"But who would do somethin' like this to yeh?" asked Hagrid.
"We were just discussing that," said Millie with a nod to Harry. "We don't think it was Blaise they were after, at all…"
"No more than six visitors at a time!" interrupted Madam Pomfrey. Hagrid's booming entrance must have drawn her from her office, for she came bustling toward them, an angry expression on her face.
The friends stared guiltily at one another. They had been advised of the rule, but even before Hagrid's entrance, they were well above the limit for guests.
"We should get going, anyway," said Ron, rising from his seat and gesturing toward Theo, Draco, and Ginny. "We'll catch up later."
Nell, who still had not spoken a word, rose from her seat as though to follow Ginny. Blaise, noticing her intention, was unable to conceal his disappointment as he said, "You're going, too? But you just got here!"
Nell managed a weak smile as she replied, "Ginny and I have some unfinished business with Pansy Parkinson… But I'll come back later. If you're still here, that is."
"Just remember that it wasn't Pansy who tried to kill him!" Millie called after her. Nell gave a casual wave over her shoulder.
As she fell into step with Ginny, Harry briefly heard Ron whisper to Theo, "Hang on… Why's Ginny got beef with Parkinson? Nell, I can understand, but…"
Blaise watched the group disappear through the open doors with a complicated expression. He seemed as though he were simultaneously saddened that Nell had left before he'd had a chance to speak with her, and yet he was looking forward to her next visit, when there may be fewer witnesses to their conversation.
"Should we go, too?" Neville asked Hermione, partially rising from his seat.
"Actually… I thought we would stay a bit longer?" Hermione said hesitantly. Though she was replying to Neville, she was looking at Harry for permission. He gave her a subtle nod, and she remained seated, a gratified smile on her face.
Harry was dying to update her on everything he had learned about horcruxes, but he was afraid to mention anything in front of Hagrid. It wasn't that he couldn't trust his friend, but Hagrid did not have the best track record for keeping secrets. Harry decided to keep his silence for now. Besides, it would be tactless to ambush Hermione with his questions and theories while Blaise was still recovering.
Shortly after the others had left, Mrs. Zabini returned to the hospital wing. She had apparated to Hogsmeade the moment she had been notified of Blaise's near brush with disaster, arriving at Hogwarts in the early hours of the morning. After satisfying herself that Blaise was no longer in immediate danger, she had disappeared to the headmaster's office, where Harry had no doubt she had been holding a very long conference with Dumbledore.
Whatever the outcome of that conversation had been, it did not mar the expression of gratitude on her beautiful features as she wrapped Harry in a tight hug.
"Albus told me what you did," she murmured into his untidy hair, "You saved his life, Harry…"
Harry was very thankful for the hug. It allowed him to hide his blush in her shoulder. He could feel his color deepening as she continued, "I can't tell you how relieved I am that YOu didn't drink that poison, yourself. If I'd lost both my boys…"
She trailed off tearfully, unable to finish the thought. She didn't need to. Harry's heart was already full with those few simple words. Embarrassed, he withdrew from the embrace, turning to look at Hagrid instead.
Perhaps from a desire to give Harry and Mrs. Zabini some privacy, Hagrid had started speaking with Millie, Hermione, and Neville. Harry hadn't heard the first part of the conversation, but Hermione was looking very worried, and it was no wonder, for Hagrid had just said something in which "board o' governors" and "shuttin' us up" could be discerned.
"... Always been a bit of a risk sendin' a kid ter Hogwarts," continued Hagrid in an undertone that was nevertheless easy to hear, "Yer expect accident, don' yeh. Bunch of underage wizards all locked up together… But attempted murder? Tha's diff'rent. 'S'no wonder Dumbledore an' Snape aren' gettin' along…"
"Snape and Dumbledore are fighting?" Harry interrupted curiously.
A look of panic overcame Hagrid's face as he realized that Harry was listening. He was quick to amend, "I never said that! I jus' overheard 'em talking and… And I shouldn' have mentioned it… Weren't supposed to have heard it at all! But it was kind of a heated discussion an' it wasn' easy ter block 'em out…"
"But why were they arguing?" asked Harry.
"If the headmaster is having a disagreement with Blaise's head of house, I'd be interested to know why, as well," Mrs. Zabini remarked darkly, "As it stands, I'd like to speak with Professor Snape, myself."
"I'm tellin' yeh, it wasn' like that!" Hagrid said frantically, "I jus' heard Snape sayin' Dumbledore took too much fer granted, an' maybe he… Snape, that is… Didn' want ter do it anymore… Sounded like he was feelin' a bit overworked, tha's all…"
Seeing the guilty expression on Hagrid's face, Harry decided not to pressure him any further. He could simply ask Snape about the argument himself.
Mrs. Zabini remained at Hogwarts another day, having been offered a room within the castle until she could be perfectly satisfied of her son's speedy recovery. Though Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Blaise in the hospital wing for further observation, it was clear that he was past all danger, and would soon be well enough to rejoin his fellow students.
Assured of Blaise's health and safety, Harry availed himself of the first opportunity to pay a visit to Snape. He found the professor in his office, laboring over yet another stack of assignments.
"Is that my essay on dementors?" Harry asked, throwing himself into the chair across from Snape's desk.
Snape attempted to hide the parchment from Harry's prying eyes, but there was no mistaking his own handwriting.
"You might as well save yourself the effort and give me top marks," Harry added. "Remus taught me all about dementors in my third year, so I know I haven't made any mistakes."
Snape's lip curled slightly. Harry watched as he carefully rolled up the parchment and set it aside. He rolled his eyes. No doubt Snape would pour over his essay with obsessive attention later, marking each incorrectly placed comma and quotation in red.
"As much as I enjoy these little visits, I am sure you can see that I'm rather busy at the moment," Snape said curtly, "So forgive me if I seem rude when I ask, what is it this time, Potter?"
"Why hasn't Goyle been expelled, yet?"
He expected Snape to feign ignorance. Maybe even to sneer at his impertinence for asking such a question. To his surprise, Snape merely sighed and replied, "I have been asking myself that same question."
"But you're Head of Slytherin," Harry said in a tone bordering on accusation, "Isn't it up to you?"
"You know very well that it is not," said Snape, "I would have had you out of Hogwarts and out of my hair after your second year, if it were up to me. Unfortunately, I cannot expel a student against the headmaster's wishes."
"Is that why you were arguing with Dumbledore?"
"And who, pray tell, told you that I was arguing with Dumbledore?"
"Does it matter? Just answer the question, Severus."
A palpable silence filled the room as Snape paused to stare at Harry. His expression was unfathomable. Slowly, as if he were choosing each word very carefully, he said, "I think, Potter, that I have become rather too lenient with you. Your audacity has reached astonishing new heights. If only you showed this much daring in quidditch. Perhaps Slytherin would not be on a losing streak."
"Oh, very funny," Harry replied with a bitter smile. "You made me captain, remember? So spill it. You and Dumbledore disagree that Goyle should be expelled, is that it?"
Snape held his gaze a moment longer before sighing again and saying, "Dumbledore seems to think that Gregory can be saved from himself. Whether he seeks revenge for his imprisoned father, or because he was tasked with a mission by the Dark Lord himself, it is clear that Gregory Goyle seeks to harm the headmaster. Dumbledore is reluctant to expel him in spite of this. He feels that what the boy needs is guidance, and that casting him out at this vulnerable period is akin to sentencing him to the life of a Death Eater."
"But what if he's already a Death Eater?" Harry asked, "What if his next plan actually kills someone?"
"I agree with you, Potter," Snape replied, "But the headmaster will not listen to me. Perhaps you can talk some sense into him. You must have developed some sort of rapport during your private lessons?"
Harry quickly tried to adopt the same indifferent mask he had so often seen upon Snape's face, but it was no use. Snape saw right through him.
"Potter…" he began in a warning tone.
"It's not like I haven't been paying attention!" Harry said hastily, interrupting Snape before he could start in on a lecture, "It's just… We've only met a few times, and Dumbledore keeps disappearing! I don't understand why he's delaying our lessons like this. Wouldn't it make sense to tell me everything I need to know at once? But every time it's just an old memory, and nothing about how I'm supposed to defeat Voldemort, and I still don't even know what a horcrux is!"
"You mean Dumbledore hasn't told you?" asked Snape with unfeigned surprise.
Harry shot him an interrogating look. "No… He just said that Voldemort was making them… He hasn't told me what they do…"
Snape stared at him. He began drumming his long, pale fingers across the top of his desk. It was a surprisingly anxious gesture from such a calm, impassive man. Harry returned the stare, hoping to intimidate the professor into giving something away. But after a moment, Snape closed his eyes and shook his head, breaking their standoff. He rose from his desk, motioning from the room.
"I think it would be better for you to receive your instruction from Dumbledore," he said, "If he had wanted me for the task, he would have asked me to teach you."
Harry might have been satisfied with Snape's response, had his next lesson with Dumbledore been scheduled. But soon after Mrs. Zabini left Hogwarts, satisfied that her son was well on his way to a full recovery, Dumbledore also vanished once more. Harry wondered if he was out searching for more superfluous memories to share with Harry, or perhaps he was seeking out the hiding places of the horcruxes themselves.
Harry pondered these and many more questions as he made his way toward the hospital wing. Blaise was doing much better, but from an excess of caution, Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping him a few more days. He would have to miss the match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as a result, though as Professor McGonagall had resolutely forbid him from giving the quidditch commentary again, he told Harry that he didn't mind.
Harry arrived just before the start of the game, intent on visiting his friend before meeting Millie and Draco in the stands. To his pleasant surprise, Blaise already had a visitor. Nell sat on the edge of his bed, having brought Blaise a stack of books and several pages of notes from their shared classes. She seemed to be advising Blaise on the latest topic from Muggle Studies, and the pair were having a lively conversation about "The World Wide Web" when Harry walked in.
"Harry, have you heard about this?" Blaise asked excitedly, skimming through Nell's notes, "Muggles are amazing! Did you know they've found a way to send mail over a computer? And we're still using owls!"
"But I like using Hedwig," said Harry. "Don't you think it's cool how they can deliver a letter just about anywhere?"
He was thinking back to the first owl-delivered letter he had received. And the second, and the third… Hundreds of letters, all addressed to him in a cupboard under the stairs. But Blaise merely shook his head and replied, "You're living in the past, Potter. This is the future."
"He's exaggerating," said Nell, rolling her eyes, "Are you headed to the match, Harry?"
He confirmed that he was, and seeing that Blaise was well provided for, both in company and entertainment, Harry soon said his goodbyes and began making his way toward the ground floor. He was hoping for a Gryffindor loss. Though it would be a disappointment for Ron and Theo, a loss today could mean a comeback for Slytherin down the line, and Harry had not quite given up his ambition to prove himself a good captain.
With the exception of Blaise and Nell, it seemed the whole school was already outside for the match. Harry hurried through the deserted corridors, looking out the windows as he passed, trying to spot any airborne players. The sound of footsteps suddenly alerted him to the fact that the school was not quite empty. Goyle was treading heavily toward him, accompanied, much to Harry's astonishment, by Colin Creevy and Herbivorous Pandey.
They stopped short at the sight of Harry, then Goyle chuckled thickly, and directed the younger boys toward a branching corridor.
"Where are you going?" Harry demanded.
"I don't answer to you, Potter," Goyle sneered. "Maybe you're used to people like Malfoy kissing your arse all the time, but as for me? I never did believe there was a Chosen One."
Harry ignored him, turning instead to the other pair. Colin was staring at him, wide-eyed with fear, though his friend Herb merely looked on with a scowl.
"Alright, Colin?" Harry asked, shooting another dirty look at Goyle.
"Piss off, Potter," Herb answered instead. He then grabbed Colin by the wrist and dragged him after Goyle, who had preceded them down the hall. Colin blushed as he sidled past Harry, quickening his pace to keep up with his friend. Harry stood rooted to the spot, watching as they turned a corner out of sight.
Goyle was definitely up to something, and Harry didn't like that he had drawn Colin and Herb into his plans. They could very well become Goyle's next victims. And while Dumbledore might be satisfied letting him tear through the student body in his attempts to accomplish… whatever it was he'd set out to do… Harry wouldn't stand for it.
Outside, a cheer rose from across the school grounds. The match had begun. Harry didn't care. He pulled his invisibility cloak from where he had it carefully concealed, then followed after Goyle.
It wasn't until he tracked them to the seventh floor, down a corridor on the left-hand side, that he realized what a fool he had been. Goyle stood before a familiar pair of double doors. The Room of Requirement.
It all made sense now. He hadn't always been able to find Goyle on the Marauder's Map, because the Room of Requirement was Unplottable. Harry and his friends had used it as a secret meeting place for the new Marauders last year. No doubt Goyle had discovered its existence back then, when he and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad had crashed one of their meetings.
But that still didn't explain what Goyle was up to. The contents of the room changed depending on the user's needs. Harry waited underneath the cloak, eager to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond the closed doors. Goyle was giving his final instructions to Colin and Herb. Harry was now quite certain that one of the boys was actually Crabbe, under the influence of polyjuice potion. That would explain the number of times Crabbe's name had appeared alone on the map, lurking in this very corridor. Harry felt stupid for not realizing this sooner, even as he wondered who the second person might be.
Goyle quickly opened the door and slipped inside. Perhaps he was trying to keep his actions private from his two companions, for he barely opened the door wide enough to squeeze his own broad shoulders through. Harry briefly considered rushing past his guards. If he were fast enough, he might be able to follow Goyle inside. But the pair were standing too close for him to sneak past. He would risk bumping into one of them and exposing himself.
In the time it took him to consider his options, the door had already closed behind Goyle. Harry dithered about what to do next. He could try interrogating the guards… But what if it really was Colin and Herb, placed under the Imperius Curse? He wouldn't put it past Goyle to use an Unforgivable Curse like that… And even if one of them were Crabbe, Harry had heard him complaining that he didn't know Goyle's plans.
He could wait until Goyle came out again, and try once more to see what was inside the room. But judging from the way his guards slumped against the wall, looking bored and inattentive, Harry figured it would be a long while before Goyle emerged again.
Harry must have waited in the hall for a solid twenty minutes before he finally gave up, turning back down the hall and heading toward the quidditch pitch to catch the last half of the game.
A high wind whipped at his robes as he ran across the grounds. Small clusters of clouds scudded quickly across the sky, causing shafts of sunlight to dance and flicker in shifting, dazzling beams. As Harry approached the field, a roar reverberated from the stands. Someone had scored. Harry strained his ears to hear the commentator, wondering which of the two teams was in the lead.
"And that's another score for Hufflepuff by Smith," said a dreamy voice, magically amplified over the cheers of the crowd, "He's playing rather well today. I think it's because he wants to impress Ginny. Not that I blame him. She's very nice. But I don't think beating her team is going to earn him any points with her, be there ever so many points for Hufflepuff… Oh, look. He's dropped the quaffle. Now Ginny's got hold of it. Better luck next time, Smith…"
Harry grinned, mounting the stairs into the stands and emerging among his fellow Slytherins. His eyes sought the commentator box, where sure enough, he spotted Luna Lovegood's head of dirty blonde hair. Professor McGonagall was looking slightly uncomfortable, as though she was having second thoughts about her appointment. Harry, on the other hand, found it hilarious.
"Now that big Hufflepuff player's got the quaffle. I can't remember his name. It's something like Bibble… No, Buggins…"
"It's Cadwallader!" bellowed Professor McGonagall. Harry laughed along with the crowd just as Cadwallader scored.
Gryffindor didn't seem to be playing well against their Hufflepuff adversaries. Though Luna's commentary had thrown Smith off his game, Hufflepuff was still leading by sixty points. But this wouldn't make a difference if Theo managed to catch the snitch quickly…
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Harry saw Theo take a dive near the far end of the field. Summerby, the Hufflepuff Seeker, saw him plummeting downward, and began flying in that direction, laying flat against their broom. Harry's heart sank as he realized there was no way they could make it in time… But no, it was a feint! The snitch was fluttering not near the ground, but close to one of the spectator towers. With breathtaking reflexes, Summerby altered direction, zooming off to the right as Theo pulled out of his dive, realizing too late that the snitch had appeared.
It was over in a moment. Summerby caught the snitch, and Gryffindor lost by two hundred and ten points. Harry, elated by what Gryffindor's loss meant for his own team's prospects, met Luna as she climbed down from the commentator's box.
"Excellent work," he said, beaming, "I hope you'll be commentating more matches in the future?"
"Did you really like it?" asked Luna, "Professor McGonagall didn't seem very happy with me…"
"I wouldn't listen to her, Luna. You did great!" said Harry encouragingly.
"And you didn't even hear the first half!" called Millie, muscling her way toward them through the crowd of students, all leaving the field at the same time. "Where have you been, Harry? You missed Luna's thesis on… What was it? Loser's Lurgy?"
"Yeah, sorry…" said Harry, "I went to see how Blaise was getting on, and got a little… distracted…"
He was hesitant to discuss his interaction with Goyle while standing in the midst of a crowd, but everyone else was so preoccupied with the outcome of the match, no one paid them any mind. Under cover of the noisy conversations happening around them, Harry dropped his voice, and advised both Millie and Luna of what he had discovered.
In typical fashion, Luna accepted the revelation that Goyle had been sneaking into the Room of Requirement with perfect equanimity.
"Why don't you use the Marauders to surveil him?" she suggested in the same tone she might have used to comment on the weather.
"I've tried that already, but the room doesn't appear on the map…" Harry began.
Luna cut him off, "Map? I was referring to Millie's students."
"How do you mean?" asked Millie.
"Well, it seems rather impossible to expect Harry to follow Goyle around all day. You don't have the same schedule, do you? But if you asked the Marauders to help, then we could take it in shifts to wait outside the Room of Requirement until the next time Goyle stops by."
Harry thought her suggestion sounded promising, but Millie shook her head in disagreement. "We already know where he's going. What we really need to figure out is what he's doing inside that room. If Harry couldn't slip past the lookout under his cloak, then I don't see how the Marauders could help."
Harry sighed. "Sorry, Luna. It was a good idea, but I think Millie is right…"
Rather than look discouraged, Luna continued to ponder the question as they made their way into the school.
"It is a pity that the room vanishes when it's not in use," she observed, thinking aloud, "Otherwise, we could sneak inside once Goyle leaves. But that wouldn't do us any good, since we don't know what he's using the room for. It's not like we can come and go as we please…"
"That's it!" exclaimed Harry, causing both Millie and Luna to jump with surprise. "Luna, you're a genius!"
"Thank you," said Luna before adding, "But what exactly have I done?"
"Come and go… That's what the elves call it. The Come and Go Room!" Harry babbled with excitement, "Don't you see? Dobby's the one who told me about the Room of Requirement in the first place. Maybe he knows how to get inside while Goyle's using it!"
Harry had been making his way toward the hospital wing, intent on telling Blaise about the outcome of the match, and to update him on Goyle's movements. He now checked his progress, turning his steps toward the lower floors of the castle, instead.
"Who is Dobby?" he heard Luna ask Millie behind his back.
"I'll introduce you," Harry offered, extending a hand toward her. "Have you ever been to the kitchens?"