Cassius sat in the infirmary next to a sleeping Harry.
He had been in the hospital wing for almost two days now and had yet to wake up. Everyone was terribly worried over their little badger but Cassius refused to leave his side. He blamed himself because he wasn't with Harry when he got hurt.
Ronald bloody Weasley had decided in all of his wisdom to push Harry off of the moving stairs on the 5th floor. Thankfully Harry only fell two floors before crash landing into another set of stairs, it could have been much worse.
Madame Pomfrey had to mend bones and organs and keep Harry from drowning in his own blood when a broken rib punctured one of his lungs. If Cassius wasn't so worried about staying by Harry's side he would have murdered Weasley already.
As it was the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins were hunting for the boy but so far he had been hiding inside Gryffindor Tower like a coward. Beatrice brought Cassius updates throughout the day when she checked in on her little badger.
"Dumbledore has refused to expel or even suspend Weasley from school. They are playing the accident card to protect him. Sprout, Snape, McGonagall, and Flitwick have all given Weasley several weeks of detention to try to get around the Headmaster's refusal to deal with Ronald. There is to be an appeal for the request to expel Ronald in front of the Board of Governors later this week, but it will be dismissed if Harry isn't awake to give his side of the events." Beatrice reported grimly.
Cassius growled, frustrated with the old man's constant protection of Gryffindors and the dismissal of their bullying.
"Set up a meeting with the Slytherins, so who has an in with the Board or who has influential parents that can spread the word around the Ministry. We will play dirty if Dumbledore doesn't want to be fair." Cassius sneered. If Dumbledore wants to mess with his Little Ray, he will show Dumbledore just how bloodthirsty a Slytherin can be.
Harry woke up the next day with a pained groan on his lips. He hadn't hurt this bad since Dudley and his gang had caught him after the apparition incident.
"Little Ray? You awake?" Cassy's voice came from the right and it took some effort to open his eyes but once he was able to he could see how worried Cassius' purple eyes were.
"Cassy?" Harry coughed, throat scratchy and dry. Cassius quickly got him a glass of water to drink.
"Here Little Ray, drink slow. You've been asleep for a couple of days now."
"Really?" Harry certainly didn't feel like he had been sleeping for so long, he still felt tired.
"Let me grab Madame Pomfrey and let her know you are awake," Cassius said, going to stand up when Madame Pomfrey bustles into Harry's curtained-off bed.
"No need Mr. Warrington, I am here. Well, you certainly got into quite a mess. What can you remember?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she cast diagnostic spells over the small Hufflepuff.
Harry's nose scrunched up in thought and Cassius felt the startling urge to coo at the adorable face Harry was making.
"Ginger boy pushed me. Was trying to find Cassy when Ginger started to yell at me. Why was he mad?" Harry asked in confusion.
"I don't know Little Ray, but I promise we will find out," Cassius swore. "No one is allowed to hurt you without answering to me and Beatrice."
"I am going to pretend I didn't hear that Mr. Warrington. Now Harry you have healed up quite nicely. I will keep you here for the rest of the day but I feel comfortable releasing you in time for dinner this evening, okay?" Madame Pomfrey smiled softly at the sweet confused boy.
"Okay." Harry nodded. Once Madame Pomfrey had left them alone again, Harry looked to Cassius.
"You okay Cassy?" Harry asked with a frown. "You look sad."
"Not sad Little Ray, just been worried about you. It was really scary when you were hurt." Cassius hugged the boy gently, reassuring himself that Harry would be okay. "I swear that Weasley won't get a chance to hurt you again."
"I trust you, Cassy," Harry said with a bright smile that felt like a balm on Cassius' guilt.
Ronald Weasley was gonna die or at the very least be expelled if Cassius had any say.
"Everyone quiet! We will commence the appeal meeting brought forth by Professor Sprout and Mr. and Mrs. Haywood on behalf of one Harry Potter against one Ronald Weasley." Lord Malfoy called out across the tense meeting room.
On one side of the room facing the table where the Governors sat were Ronald Weasley, the Weasley Parents, and Albus Dumbledore. On the opposite side of the room were Harry Potter, Pomona Sprout, Rupert Haywood, Beatrice Haywood, Cassius Warrington, and Madame Amelia Bones.
"This past Friday it was reported that second-year Hufflepuff Harry Potter was walking the corridor on the fifth floor looking for fourth-year Slytherin Cassius Warrington when he was attacked by second-year Gryffindor Ronald Weasley. The result of this attack was Harry Potter either being pushed or falling off of the staircase and falling two floors before landing on another staircase. Madame Pomfrey has reported three broken ribs, one of which had pierced Harry Potter's lung, nine other broken bones, a skull fracture, and other organ trauma from bones pressing into them. Harry Potter's current temporary guardians, Pomona Sprout and Rupert Haywood, requested expulsion for Ronald Weasley for nearly killing Harry Potter. Albus Dumbledore found their concerns to be unfounded, has ruled the event an accident, and gave Ronald Weasley three weeks of detention for starting arguments and casting magic in the halls. Does everyone agree with this summary of events?" Lord Malfoy intoned seriously.
Everyone murmured in quiet agreement, Harry's side of the room holding back their anger at the injustice that occurred.
"Albus Dumbledore please present your evidence." Lord Malfoy ordered, watching the old man with poorly disguised hatred.
"Ladies and Lords of the Board, this meeting is a little much for a small accident. Yes, Ronald has admitted to starting an altercation with Harry, but he did have any intentions to kill Harry, nor did he purposefully cast any magic to push Harry over the railings. His wand confirmed this, no offensive spells were cast." Dumbledore spoke with a troubled tone and twinkling eyes. Cassius wanted to break his nose.
"Rupert Haywood, provide your evidence," Lucius ordered after Dumbledore sat back down.
"My ward, Harry, has agreed to submit his memory of the event to be viewed by pensive." Mr. Haywood declared causing several on the board to start in surprise.
"Removing memories is not recommended at this young of an age," Dumbledore said disapprovingly.
"I have two healers from St. Mungos who have signed and observed the safe removal of the memory in question. I have the sealed vial here from St. Mungos." Madame Bones announced.
"Very well. We will take a break while the board and I view the memory." Lucius nodded, taking the memory from Madame Bones before having a house elf bring a pensive larger enough for all of them to view it.
Memory Harry was humming to himself as he walked down the hall, wearing his Hufflepuff robes and bright violet-purple flats. His hair was tied up in a messy bun being held in place by a matching purple scrunchie.
As the small boy turned the corner to go down the stairs, a loud voice yelling his name caught his attention.
Head tilted, Harry watched as Ronald Weasley approached.
Ronald in his hand-me-down Gryffindor robes and dirty appearance moved quickly to confront the Hufflepuff.
"Harry Potter the boy who lived to be a Puff or would that be poof with the way you hang off the Slytherin boys all the time?" Ronald sneered out, causing Harry to blink in confusion. Unfocused eyes trying to make sense of Ronald's presence, but otherwise not reacting to the taunt, causing Ronald's face to slowly turn red in anger from a lack of response.
"What? Too dumb to talk without one of your keepers here to help you?" Ronald tried again, stepping closer to Harry.
"You aren't worth my breath." Harry simply said. Ronald was furious now.
"Oh yeah? Try breathing after this you stupid freak!" Ronald shouted before shoving Harry with his hands until the small boy was pushed over the railing.
The members of the board were in shock. Never had they seen such a disgusting display of bullying. They retook their seats without having to speak to one another, there was no doubt that Ronald was guilty.
"The memory proves that Ronald Weasley purposefully and maliciously pushed Harry Potter over the stair railings in order to harm him," Lucius announced, causing the Weasleys to turn red in either embarrassment or anger, he couldn't tell.
"Madame Bones, will the DMLE be getting involved due to this incident?" Lady Longbottom asked, looking at the woman standing with Harry Potter's side of the room.
"If it wasn't for his age then charges would have already been pending for assault and attempted murder. As it stands Harry Potter's guardians will be suing the Weasleys as well as getting a restraining order against Ronald." Madame Bones said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.
"He is just a boy! It was an accident!" Molly Weasley hissed out.
"That was no accident." Griselda Marchbanks said disgusted.
"While the law may not allow for Ronald to be punished yet, we the board do have the power to prevent such an event from happening again," Lucius spoke again, drawing everyone's attention to him. "All in favor of expelling and snapping Ronald Weasley's wand, say 'aye'"
Unsurprisingly everyone on the board said aye.
"Ronald Weasley you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your wand will be snapped and you will be prevented from attending Hogwarts ever again. I suggest you think about your actions before your temper turns you into a murderer." Lucius Malfoy silkily said before dismissing the board. Not allowed Albus or Molly to speak up.
Ronald's wand was seized and quickly snapped in half. The boy wailed in protest before being quickly shuffled out of the room by his parents. Dumbledore stormed out of the room soon after.
Cassius hoped this was a step in the right direction to keeping Harry safe.
That night Harry spent his time down in the Slytherin den where everyone was able to check on the boy themselves and celebrate Weasley being kicked out of Hogwarts permanently.
Harry sat in Cassius' lap, falling asleep with Cassius' arms around him feeling safe and warm. Cassy kept all of his promises to Harry just like he said he would. The comfort he got from just being able to rely on someone was immense. Cassy was his favorite person.
When Harry fell asleep, several of the other guys in the quidditch team and in Cassius' year started to tease him about his bright duckling.
"You have somehow managed to pull off being an overprotective mama dragon to the little badger and still whipped. That little boy has you completely wrapped around his finger." Terrence teased with a bright grin.
"Oh shut up. Someone needs to care for Harry." Cassius said.
"Mmm yeah if you say so. I think you are in denial. Harry has started to refer to you as his 'favorite person' and that you belong to him. That little boy would go to war for you." Flint managed to butt in.
Cassius sighed heavily, brushing some hair out of Harry's eyes. "He wouldn't need to go to war because I would do it for him. He deserves love and childish wonder, the everyday comforts he was denied by his horrendous relatives."
Pucey and Higgs exchanged glances. Their friend was so far gone on the small Hufflepuff and he didn't even know it.
What a lovestruck fool.