Percival drew his wand as he walked away from Tonks, sending his Patronus hurrying towards Lord Black. It would find him in conversation with Percival's godmother, as the Wizengamot ended. Sirius would then apparate directly to Hogsmeade and hurry to the station.
Meanwhile Harry was lying on the floor of the compartment unable to move a muscle. His breath was laboured. He could feel the blood running from his nose, pooling in the back of his throat and sliding across his skin of his cheek and disappearing somewhere behind his ear. He vaguely wondered if the blood would stay disillusioned once it dripped onto the floor, if not perhaps the someone would see it when they came to clean the train. Did they do that before its return journey or only when the train arrived at Kings Cross? The noise of footsteps and voices in the corridor faded and with it his hope that someone would check the compartments before the train departed again.
The pain distracted him from the hatred he felt for Malfoy as he lay helpless on the floor. Not to mention the anger he felt at himself. It was a stupid situation to have landed himself in, though he could not rightly remember how it had happened. He should have been more wary of Hermione. Despite everything it just had not crossed his mind that she would actually raise her wand against him. Especially not on the train, with the two hundred potential witnesses.
The scrape of a boot on the platform drew his attention to the students departing the dark platform outside. Given they were not searching for him he supposed the others thought he had left the train without them and was heading to the castle. They would not know until they arrived at Hogwarts and took their places in the Great Hall that he was not there, by which time he would be halfway back to London. Hopefully it would leave enough time for Percival to contact Sirius to meet the train at Kings Cross station and so, prevent whatever it was that Malfoy was plotting. If Percival even bothered to raise the alarm, perhaps Hermione was right, and he was preparing to … no. That was not right!
He tried to make a sound, even a grunt but between the petrification, the mouthful of blood and the pain in his ribs it was impossible. Surely, he could use wordless magic to get free? He had practiced summoning his wand, not wanting to get caught without it. He could feel it responding to his silent 'Accio' but with his arms trussed up behind him, lying as he was his own body weight was preventing it from moving far. 'Relashio' … nothing. 'Finite' … again nothing.
He thought he could hear the rustling of the trees that surrounded the lake, and the far-off hoot of an owl. There was no hint of a search being made. No more footsteps, no more voices calling out to friends, no more bumps on the side of the carriages. It would take time for them to reach the Great Hall, a feeling of hopelessness spread through him as he imagined the convoy of Thestral drawn carriages trundling up to the school and the muffled yells of laughter issuing from whichever carriage Malfoy was riding in, where he would be recounting his attack on Harry to his fellow Slytherins. Surely Percival would have noticed he was not there … perhaps he had not even noticed Harry was missing. After all the other boy was enigmatic and there were lots of other more interesting students up at the school. No! that was a ridiculous thought. Damn why was his thinking still so fuzzy, what had Malfoy done to him?
No! Not Malfoy … Hermione. He had stupidly gone into a compartment alone with Hermione, not even bothering to draw his wand … what had she done? His thought circled once more.
The floor began to vibrate as the engine roared into life. The train lurched, causing Harry to be rolled over on to his side, which at least meant he no longer had to worry about choking on the blood that had pooled in the back of his throat. Now he was staring at the dusty underside of the seats instead of the ceiling. The Express was leaving, and nobody knew he was still on it, and bloody Malfoy was going to arrange for some Death Eater to be there waiting for him and …
There was the sensation of his skin being scraped clean and a voice overhead said, "Wotcher, Harry."
There was a flash of red light, his body unfroze and the ropes binding him disintegrated. He groaned, then spat out the semi-coagulated blood that was left in his mouth as he tried to push himself into a more dignified position, only to gasp as the pain in his ribs robbed him of breath and collapse in on himself.
A footstep sounded in the hall.
"Tonks!" a welcome familiar voice called out. Harry gasped a sob of relief.
"In here Sirius!"
"Oh Harry," Sirius crouched next to him. "What happened? No wait, first where are you hurt?"
"Ribs, nose, fingers, back …" Harry gasped out.
"There's no time. We'd better get out of here, quickly," Tonks said, as the train lurched again.
"Right, let's get you off the train first and then we'll see about fixing you up." Sirius draped his coat over his godson then levitated him. Harry moaned at the sudden movement. Directed by Sirius' wand, Harry was floated out of the train and lowered onto the platform. It was a disturbing experience. As the Hogwarts Expressed started to move, hissing and spewing smoke, Tonks had to jump onto the platform. She staggered a little on the landing but managed to keep upright. From his position lying on the platform Harry watched the scarlet engine pick up speed, round the corner and disappear from view.
The cold air made his chest tighten, and he gave a weak wet cough, drawing Sirius back to his side.
"Who did it?"
"Draco Malfoy," Harry whispered. "Thanks for…I didn't think anyone …"
"Hang on, don't say anymore, let me fix you up. Episkey," Sirius said pointing his wand at Harry's chest. Harry's ribs felt very hot and then cold, and his breathing eased a little. Sirius repeated the spell several more times. "Well, that's the bones. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about your muscles or bruises so make sure you see Severus when you get up to the castle."
"Won't you be coming …" He took the hand that Sirius had offered him and gingerly stood up.
"Sorry Harry," and he genuinely looked it, "Dumbledore would know the minute that I crossed the boundary. He knows Tonks is on lookout, however he thinks I am at the Wizengamot. I was still there when he left to return to the school."
"How did it go?"
Sirius looked thoughtful, "Well, Hermione will be grounded to the common room, have to attend sessions with a Mind Healer, and have detentions."
"I guess it's better than nothing."
"It's more than I thought she would get," Sirius agreed. "Now how did this happen? You said it was Malfoy, I thought I told you to be careful."
"I was!" Harry protested. "It wasn't all Malfoy," Harry admitted, "I got called to lunch with Professor Slughorn. Hermione was there and she wanted to talk to me afterwards. I sent Neville back to our compartment. She did something … I don't know what…something isn't right with my head. I think she talked to me about getting her to check my homework, and then I remember being in the corridor and then … I woke up, trussed up like a pig and tucked into the luggage stand in Malfoy's compartment."
"I didn't think I needed to warn you to be wary of Hermione," Sirius scolded.
"I know, I was stupid. I didn't even draw my wand! Guess I just thought she wouldn't do anything on a train full of people. Those compartment walls aren't exactly soundproof."
"And we're wizards who can ward," Sirius was still not happy, more that his son had been hurt than anything else. "Go on then what did you hear in the white-haired wonder's compartment."
Harry relayed the conversation he had overheard, which caused Sirius to sigh, and agree that it sounded like Malfoy had been inducted into the Death Eaters.
"Then when the train stopped, he waited for the others to leave before making me visible again. I struggled to get to my wand and fell to the floor, then he … well … you saw," Harry recounted, gesturing to his face. "How did you know I was there?"
"Percival sent a message that you were missing. Speaking of which, could you?" he looked at his cousin.
A silvery four-legged creature erupted from her wand and streaked off into the darkness.
"They'll know that I've got you now. Come on, we'd better not dawdle."
They set off towards the lane that led to the school. Harry glanced sideways at Tonks as they walked. It seemed that she was recovering from her potioning, but she was not quite the bright, inquisitive witch she had been before. Now she seemed older, more serious and purposeful.
Having always travelled there by carriage (except for the events in his second year, which were best left unmentioned), Harry had never before appreciated just how far Hogwarts was from Hogsmeade Station. With great relief he finally saw the tall pillars on either side of the gates, each topped with a winged boar. He was sore, cold, and hungry and he desperately wanted to see Percival. But when he put out a hand to push open the gates, he found them chained shut.
"Ah, do I have to climb the wall?" He looked up at the high fences with their spiked tops in dread. "'Cause I don't think I can right now."
"No, you actually really can't," said Tonks flatly. "Anti-intruder jinxes on all of them. Charlie Weasley tried them out when he was at school, coming back after a few too many at the Hogshead." She grinned, momentarily reminding Harry of her old self, "actually, remind me to tell Ron that story."
"No doubt someone will be down to let you in, so I had better be off," Sirius wrapped Harry in a careful hug. "See Severus! Don't think I didn't notice that limp. I know Draco is an annoying little shit but don't let him get under your skin, and don't go looking for trouble."
"What should I tell the teachers?"
"The truth. Honestly, we both know that nothing will come of it, but at least it will be on record. Besides who knows they may find some way to get around Malfoy Senior and Dumbledore."
"Okay. Bye."
Sirius pressed a kiss to the top of Harry's head, stepped away and disappeared with a pop.
A lantern was bobbing in the distance at the foot of the castle. It was not until the glowing light was ten feet away from them that Harry recognised the uplit, hooked nose and long, black hair of Severus Snape. He tapped the padlock holding the gate once, so that the chains snaked backwards, and the gates creaked open.
"I meant Hagrid to get the message," said Tonks, frowning.
"Hagrid was late for the start of term feast, so I took it instead. And incidentally," said Snape, standing back to allow Harry to pass, "I was interested to see your new Patronus."
He shut the gate with a loud clang and tapped the chains with his wand again, so they slithered, clinking back into place.
"You'll need to be careful; you would not want someone to … recognise it."
As Snape swung the lantern about Harry saw, fleetingly a look of shock and embarrassment on Tonk's face. Then she was covered in darkness once more.
"Goodnight," Harry called to her over his shoulder, as he began the walk up to the school with Severus. "Thanks for…everything."
"See you, Harry."
Severus did not speak for a minute or so and Harry could feel the negative emotions in the air. Was Severus angry at him?
"Twenty points from Gryffindor, I think," said Snape, in a tightly controlled voice. "You are late, and out of uniform. I think Gryffindor might have just set a new record for starting the year in negative figures."
"P … p … professor?" Harry stuttered out, turning betrayed green eyes on Severus. Had the man returned to loathing him? He was the victim here, why was everybody blaming him?!
"What were you thinking? Going into a compartment alone with that … girl? Do you not have one iota of self-preservation! How did you even end up in the Slytherin's compartment? Draco Malfoy was quite vocal about how he had bested you, and that you were on your way to a meeting with Riddle! What if he had succeeded? We would have lost you!"
"I'm sorry," Harry somewhat distractedly as he concentrated on the path ahead of him and not tripping over the stones that littered the way.
Severus stopped abruptly, sucking in a few deep breaths before he demanded, "Well what happened?"
"I don't know," Harry whined, feeling that it was decidedly unfair that Severus was taking this out on him, besides his muscles were aching from having been bound in such an odd position and even though the breaks were fixed, the swelling from his nose was making his nose throb. "I followed Hermione into her compartment after the lunch with Slughorn, she shoo'ed some younger kids out into the hall. I thought she wanted to yell at me again but the only thing I can remember is that she wants me to get her to check over my homework."
"What else?" Severus asked reading the hesitant expression on Harry's face.
"There's something about Percival, but … it feels wrong. It's almost like I want to believe that he's going to hurt me, but I know that's not right. My thoughts kind of jump and fight. There's too much time missing. And when I woke up in the luggage rack it was like there was wool in my head, my thoughts were all fuzzy. They still are a bit."
Severus, grabbed his chin, tilting it so that he could inspect Harry's face. Given how tersely the older man had been speaking Harry was surprised at how gently he did so. The next thing he knew Severus had a damp conjured cloth in his hand and was wiping the dried blood away. "Then I assume the mutt appeared."
"Tonks first."
"Hmm, one of them could have cleaned you up!" Black eyes studied him intensely, "a confundus charm at the very least and possibly a concussion."
"My memories?"
"Detention tomorrow night, we will investigate. If you have been obliviated, I am waiting for ingredients to brew a restorative potion. However, there are a few others who are also in need…" He pulled a pot of paste from somewhere in the folds of his robes, and dabbed it on Harry's nose, giving him instructions to rub it on all the areas of bruising after a warm shower and before bed as he screwed the lid back on and passed it over. Then he handed Harry a small vial of Muscle Relaxant to be taken at the same time.
"Mine isn't that important, I can wait," said Harry assuming that it was for Marlene, or perhaps one of the Professors.
"It is still disturbing that she would try such a thing. That she would even know the spell well enough to try it."
They had reached the castle steps at last and as the great oaken front doors swung open on the vast flagged Entrance Hall, a burst of talk and laughter and of tinkling plates and glasses greeted them through the doors standing open to the Great Hall. Harry contemplated pulling out his Invisibility Cloak and trying to make his way to the Gryffindor table un-noticed.
As though he had read his mind, Severus said, "Are you going to try to sneak in?"
"Maybe we should walk in together. I know you have been outed as a spy but, they are kids. Most of them are only going to be worried about how you treat them. If you show them, you are still the same grumpy Professor they've always known, and not going to suddenly start favouring Gryffindors then they might leave you alone."
"Harry," Severus said in a slightly gruff voice. "Thank you for considering me. However, I think you over-estimate them. Most of them will do exactly what their families tell them to."
"But they're kids, they shouldn't be forced to follow their parents if they don't want to."
"I know, perhaps by showing them that I chose not to follow that mad man, we might show them that there is another way … But you are right they will only do so if they can see that what they know about me has not been a lie."
Harry gave him a small smile, before he turned, setting his face in a disgruntled mask and marched into the Great Hall ahead of his mentor as if he would do anything to get away from the man.
The Great Hall, with its four long house tables and its staff table set at the top of the room, was decorated a usual with floating candles that made the plates below glitter and glow. It was all a shimmering blur to Harry, however, who walked so fast that he was passing the Hufflepuff table before people really started to stare, and by the time they were standing up to get a good look at him he had spotted Percival, Neville and Ron, sped along the benches towards them and forced his way into the small space beside his boyfriend.
"Where've you – blimey, what've you done to your face?" asked Ron goggling at him along with everyone else in the vicinity. Suddenly Harry was acutely aware of the slimy slick feeling of the paste on his skin. He hoped that it did not look as bad as it felt, though from the expression on the group's faces he was out of luck.
"Why what's wrong with it?" said Harry, grabbing a spoon and squinting at his distorted reflection. The globs of white cream were not … that … visible on his tanned skin.
"Well, your clothes are covered in blood, and you have," Percival paused to give a small sniff, "Bruise paste on you face. The swelling hasn't gone down yet either."
"Here," Neville said from across the table and pointed his wand at Harry, it was a testament to the strength of their friendship that Harry did not flinch. "Tergeo!" The blood siphoned off his shirt.
"If you only just applied the paste, it will take another ten minutes for the swelling to subside," Percival said.
"That sounds like the voice of experience speaking," Harry smiled gingerly.
"So, are you going to tell us what happened?"
"Not here, I'll tell you later," Harry glanced to the spot three seats away where Hermione was sitting, trying to look as if she was not eavesdropping. He reached across Ron to grab a couple of chicken legs and a handful of chips but before he could take them, they vanished to be replaced by desserts.
"I think I'll take that as a sign," Harry said snagging a raspberry tartlet from the platter in front of him.
"Don't even think about it!" Percival said mock sternly and passed over his plate which still had a considerable amount of food still on it. "I got extra just in case."
"Thanks," Harry mumbled, blushing as he took the plate.
"You missed the sorting, anyway," said Neville as Ron dived into a large slice of chocolate gateau.
"Hat say anything interesting?' asked Harry, taking a mouthful of greens.
"More of the same really … advising us all to unite. Interestingly questioning whether dividing us into houses is the right thing to do."
"What did Dumbledore say?"
"Not much but he saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he? It can't be long now."
"Severus said Hagrid was late to the feast-"
"You've seen Snape? How come?" said Ron between frenzied mouthfuls of gateau.
"He was the one sent to get me from the gate."
"Hagrid was only a few minutes late," said Neville. "Look he's waving at you, Harry."
Harry looked up at the staff table and grinned at Hagrid, who was indeed waving at him. Hagrid never quite managed to comport himself with the dignity of the other Professors. In fact, Professor McGonagall, the top of whose head only came up to somewhere between Hagrid's elbow and shoulder as they were sitting side by side, was looking on disapprovingly at this enthusiastic greeting. Harry was surprised to see the Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, sitting on Hagrid's other side; she rarely left her tower room and he had never seen her at the start-of-term feast before. She looked as odd as ever, glittering with beads and trailing shawls, her eyes magnified to enormous size by her spectacles. Having always considered her a bit of a fraud, Harry had been surprised to discover it was she who had made the prediction that caused Tom Riddle to kill Harry's parents and attack Harry himself. A small part of him would have wondered at the validity of it, if he had not seen her deliver the prophecy prior to Wormtail's escape in his third year. The knowledge made him even less eager to find himself in her company, and he was grateful that he had given up Divination the year before. Her great eyes swivelled in his direction: he hastily looked away towards the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy was miming the shattering of a nose to raucous laughter and applause. Harry dropped his gaze to his plate, what he would not give to fight Malfoy one on one.
"Don't even think about it," Percival had leaned over and spoken into his ear. Before Harry could protest, he expanded, "I can see what you are thinking. Malfoy is a little worm but starting a fight with him gains nothing. The teachers are aware something happened, make a complaint to McGonagall and back it up with your memory. If she is stopped from doing anything then we can prank the punk."
"Alright," Harry agreed. Dumbledore would surely stop McGonagall from giving Malfoy even so much as a detention.
Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table, causing the talk and laughter echoing around the Hall to die almost immediately.
"The very best of evenings to you!" he smiled broadly, his arms opening wide as though to embrace the whole room. His bright fuchsia robe had glittering stars all over it and was particularly blinding.
"What is he wearing?" Ron muttered.
"Did not think his dress sense could get any worse, but apparently I was wrong," Neville agreed, earning a disapproving tut from Hermione, which was unceremoniously ignored.
"To our new students, welcome; to our old students welcome back! Another year of magical education awaits you. Our caretaker Mr Flich has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items purchased at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Those wishing to play …"
Harry nearly laughed, "Lucky they gave me all my things for free then."
"Good thinking Harry," Ron chuckled quietly.
"Pretty good advertising for them anyway," Neville added, "Now everyone will want to know what they sell."
"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn," Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow, "is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post as Potions Master."
"Potions?"
The word echoed around the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.
"Potions?" said Hermione leaning around Katie Bell to hiss at Harry. "Harry! You met him; you could have told me!"
"Professor Snape, meanwhile," said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"No! Harry you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts!" complained Hermione.
"I think you'll find I just said he was going to be new teacher," Harry retorted. "When Dumbledore …"
"Professor Dumbledore!"
"Took me to meet him we did not discuss what he was going to teach at all! Sorry for speaking over you Katie," Harry focused passed Percival at the girl on the other side. "Actually, there was something I needed to discuss with you."
"I don't know what you have to say to me Potter!" Katie huffed.
Harry wondered at her change in attitude, apart from the fall out for the night that they had helped Norbert escape, she had always been friendly, and they had worked well together on the Quidditch team.
"Please, after dinner, we need to talk about the captaincy. Then we'll need to go and see McGonagall."
"Oh!" she seemed a little appeased. "Alright then."
"At least we'll only have one more year of Snape then," Hermione said. "Right Harry?"
"I beg your pardon!" Harry felt anger in Severus' defence, begin to boil under his skin, it stopped when Percival took hold of his hand. If they did not want Dumbledore to know how far Severus had drifted from his side, Harry needed to keep his reactions in check.
"Well that job's jinxed," she explained smugly. "No one's lasted more than a year … and Quirrell actually died doing it. Maybe Snape will too."
"Hoping one of our teachers is going to die is in really poor taste, Granger," Neville pointed out.
"Oh as if you weren't thinking it Neville, we all know what your boggart is!"
"Was Hermione. I believe it will have changed. After the Lestranges escaped Azkaban, my fears took on a different focus." Neville had admitted to Harry that practicing Occlumency had meant that he had uncovered some of his memories of the night that his parents were attacked. Until he had figured out how to properly store them, they had haunted his dreams.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. They were not the only ones who had been talking; the whole hall had erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire. Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.
"Now as everybody knows. At the end of last year Lord Voldemort was defeated in a battle at the Ministry of Magic. I would ask everyone to respect all those involved and refrain from asking them questions. However Lord Voldemort's followers are still at large, as such the castle's fortifications have been strengthened over the summer. While we are protected in new and more powerful ways we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you therefore to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them- in particular the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours."
Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students focussing benevolently on Harry, before he smiled once more.
"But now your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say goodnight. Pip pip!"
With the usual deafening scraping noise, the benches were moved back, and the hundreds of students began to file out of the Great Hall towards their dormitories. Ron, Parvati and the other prefects gathered up the first years and began to lead them to the staircases.
"Katie," Harry gained the chaser's attention and guided her to a relatively sheltered alcove out of the press of students.
She folded her arms and leaned against the wall, waiting for him to speak.
"Right, I'm going to assume that they did not offer you the Captaincy and you did not turn it down," Harry started, "Which was my first thought when I got the letter."
"Wow you're so smart you could be Merlin, Potter," she snarked.
"Oi! There's no need for that, I didn't ask for it," Harry defended. "I swear I don't really want it either."
Katie looked at him with surprise wide eyes, "Oh."
"Yeah, so let's go and tell McGonagall that you're right to take it on with your N.E. . I assume that's the only reason they offered it to me."
Five minutes later they were knocking on the door to the Head of House's office.
"Ah, while I expected complaints, I did not expect you to be here Harry," McGonagall said as she let the pair of them inside.
"I just think I have a bit much going on. Not only that but there are others that are better at strategising than I am," he explained, "Not to mention that Katie has been on the team just as long."
"Dumbledore said that you were feeling a bit left out with both of your friends being prefects. he didn't want resentment to come between you."
"Sorry professor but that's a ridiculous reason to give someone the captaincy. It needs to go to someone that has the dedication to spend time planning try-outs, practices, and who can create new plays depending on the team that we are facing. That person is not me. Not to mention it's none of the headmaster's business what happens between me and my friends. Trust me when I say, I am in no way envious of Ron's extra responsibilities, besides I help him out with them when I can anyway."
"That's fair," McGonagall nodded in agreement, making a note to review her memories again. Surely, she would not have agreed to giving Harry the Captaincy without interference. Bloody meddling old man. "Are you giving up being seeker as well? Umbridge's ban was lifted."
"I'll still be seeker," Harry confirmed. "More action, less planning, see it's much more like me."
"And are you happy to take on the role, Miss Bell? Even with your exams, the headmaster intimated that he thought it would be too much."
"I think I can manage it Professor," Katie replied proudly as Harry withdrew the badge from his pocket and pinned it to the front of Katie's robes.
"Well, that's sorted then. Though I don't know what we will do next year if you won't take it Harry."
"Consider making Ron the captain's assistant so he can learn from Katie this year and then he can have it next year if he thinks he can manage it or can help out one of the others."
"We've never really had line of succession before," McGonagall mused.
"A second string would probably help to; in case someone gets hurt."
"Or in case of detention," Katie poked Harry in the ribs.
"Yeah, that too."
"Well consider that when you hold try-outs. Miss Bell, I leave it in your capable hands," McGonagall said approvingly. "Now if you two want to make the common room before curfew you had best run." She chivvied them from her office.
-o0o-
Marlene had a lot to think about. Working back through her memories had stalled. She was sure that there she was missing at least half an hour of the fight in which her family had lost their lives. If that was missing, then there was bound to be more. Working on her Occlumency had improved things only so much.
She stared into the brown liquid in her cup, it had long since gone cold. Where had it all gone wrong? She had been an up-and-coming witch with her whole future ahead of her. Engaged to, what she had thought was, the love of her life. A wonderful family. Gone it was all gone. In some ways she wished she could go back to being Janey, at least then she would not remember what she had lost.
"Marlene?" a hesitant voice interrupted her morose thoughts. She looked up, into hazel eyes flecked with gold.
"Remus."
"Whatever it is stop thinking about it."
"It's hard not to when the house is so silent."
"Yes, it's amazing what the absence of just one person will do."
"He is rather boisterous," Marlene nodded.
"That he is. Can I help?"
"I'm stuck," she admitted, releasing a sigh. "It's like there's some barrier preventing me from remembering anything else."
"What if we looked for things, like letters or photos, from before to try and prompt something?"
"I had a box of keepsakes, mainly letters and photos. That might help, if we can find it."
"I imagine that they would have transferred everything from your house into your Vault. I think Lily took charge of packing everything up, she didn't want to give up hope when we couldn't find your body. Always said that it had to be ordered just so, for you when you came home."
Two hours later they had returned from Gringotts and were sitting in the parlour once more. Lily had been amazingly organised, every item from the house had been, cleaned and packed away, in the best way to preserve it. Every box labelled with its contents.
"Do you want me to stay?" Remus offered.
Marlene seemed to have frozen staring at the box. It was a small trunk really; its dark stained wood had been engraved with the McKinnon crest. The lid opened with a small flash as the lock was released in the presence of her magic.
She smiled at the notes in childish handwriting. There were others in coloured envelopes clearly muggle made. Finally, there were ones in a much more refined script. On top of them all rested bundles of photographs.
Flicking through them, many Hogwarts memories were triggered, but there was still a block, so she reached for the letters.
Dear Marlene,
We must meet, I have urgent news which I cannot risk mentioning here.
Yours
The name was smudged but it was Lily's writing of that, she was sure. She could not remember if they had met up. Everything had been such a mess at the time.
Dear Marlene,
James and I are going into hiding. I have some misgivings. Allegedly Albus has witnessed a prophecy. You know I always doubted such things. I can't say more but I am beginning to have concerns about … well, I'll have to tell you when we catch up. Contact me soon.
They had caught up briefly one afternoon; Lily had slipped away from the house under James' Cloak.
"I remember!" she gasped in pain, as her mind was buffeted by the onslaught of memories.
"Marlene!" Remus was on his knees by her side in an instant.
"I … I'm okay," she whispered shakily. "It was Dumbledore. Lily had discovered he had done something to James. James had been acting off and then Gringotts contacted her to say that he had re-written his will leaving everything to Dumbledore, nothing to her and Harry. They thought it was odd given the circumstances and as she had not come in with him. It was a potion of some kind I think, she never said how she dealt with it only that James was recovering. Mum offered them one of our properties to stay in. It had been vacant for over a century, and we had just redone the wards so we could use it as a bolt hole should we be attacked."
Noisily she sucked in air.
"Lily said she felt something was wrong with everything that we had been told about He-who-must-not-be-named. There was something about … Batty …" Marlene could have cried in frustration, the memory just out of reach. She shook her head and re-centred her thoughts. "Mum mentioned that Dumbledore had been pressuring them to change their wills too, to leave some money to him and the Order. I warned them that Dumbledore had potioned James so they took steps to ensure that it did not happen to them. The night the Death Eaters came Dumbledore arrived before the rest of the Order, he came out of the floo that we were making our way to, so we could escape to the safe house. I turned to a noise thinking the Death Eaters had gotten into the room then something heavy hit me over the back of the head," she raised her hand to rub the spot gently, "as the world went dark, I saw him cast a spell at dad's back. It was him … he killed my father!"
Tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks. Remus wrapped her in his arms as she sobbed.
-o0o-
"Winky what is yous doing?" Dobby had just popped to the Potter estate to find his friend surveying the garden bed in front of her that was filled with a variety of plants.
"I be's fixing the house for Master Harry."
"But Master Harry be Dobby's Master not Winky's." Dobby looked at her sternly hands on his hips.
Winky tutted at him, "Winky be's Black house elf. Master Harry be Master Sirius' son, he be's being Black Heir too."
"But Dobby be's Master Harry's personal elf. Master Harry be's a Potter. This be's a Potter House. Dobby should be fixing!"
"Plenty of work for elves," Winky shrugged. "Master Sirius tells me to fix, so I fix. I cleaned up all the house ready for Masters to visit but they forgets." She sounded sad.
"Oh no not forgets. Dumblydoorey cames and took Master Harry to the Wheezy's."
"Oh. Maybe he comes at Yule?"
"Dobby makes sure. Dobby likes what you did with that boulder," Dobby pointed at a small rock pile that lay to the side of a body water on the left side of the garden.
-o0o-
Oh, it was fabulous was the first thought in Harry's mind as he glanced at front page of the Prophet. Clearly Rita Skeeter had managed to find her way into the Wizengamot.
Is Dumbledore Dementing!
An expose' by Rita Skeeter.
It has come to this reporter's attention that things are not well in our esteemed repository of learning. Oft times Headmaster Dumbledore tries to persuade us that life inside Hogwarts is all singing daises and sunshine when the reality is something much more sinister.
Students have been hurt, maimed, and even met their demise within those vaulted walls, and little has been done! Is this the way to secure the Wizarding Worlds future? Is this how we protect the life and blood of future generations?
In 1991 Professor Quirrell died in yet un-explained circumstances. The only information available is that a student was involved. Do we have a child killer on the loose or was the Professor saving one of his precious students? How did he come to be endangered? Enquiring minds would like to know, but no spokesperson has come forward from Hogwarts to comment.
1992 saw several students spend many long months in the infirmary. We were advised it was due to an unidentified illness. New evidence suggest that it was not some some magical sickness but attacks by a magical creature that was stalking the grounds reigning havoc on our children. Where was the outcry from the public when the school remained open despite these incidents? Where was the search team to hunt the creature down? The consultation with Magizoologists? Non-existant! Where is the creature now? Does it remain at Hogwarts? Are our children going to be mauled by the beast as they walk the halls to class?
Then there was the Dementor incident of 1993 where a horde of dementors made their way on to the grounds while the students were watching Quidditch. An entire generation of witches and wizards could have had their souls sucked out in a single afternoon, and where was the investigation? More than half of the Houses in the Sacred 28 had an Heir present at that match and still there were no questions asked and no information given.
Thanks to the brave statements made by Harry James Potter, our Boy-Who-Lived, we are now all aware of what happened at the end of the 1994 school year. Another bright, up and coming wizard, some say the best of his peers, had his light snuffed out. And where was the enquiry? How did a portkey that was only touched by members of staff end up set for that dark and dismal graveyard? Is this how we honour Cedric Diggory's sacrifice?
And last year a member of the teaching staff had in their possession several DARK artefacts, some of which were even used on our students and for the majority of the year it went seemingly un-noticed, by the headmaster, whom we have now learned uses the portraits that litter the walls of Hogwarts to report events back to him. Why did he not know? Or did he know and approve of these methods of punishment?
His actions or lack there-of have now impacted the Wizards and Witches of Great Britain on the International stage with trade sanctions being threatened, due to the lack of investigation and communication when the child of a member of the Ambassadorial staff was injured in a malicious attack within Hogwarts halls. How long will we allow our children to be hurt in this way before we protest? Has the Headmaster reached his used by date?
The article degenerated into Rita's usual name calling at that point, so Harry merely passed it over to Percival. Quite frankly Harry was surprised that the article was as objective as it was. He wondered if Seraphina had something to do with it. Though perhaps not, there was a lot of information about each of the years that had never been made public before. Someone was surely going to get in trouble for it, then again there were three hundred odd suspects.
Harry glanced at the high table.
"Dumbledore is not pleased."
Neville followed his gaze, "No there is a distinct lack of twinkling going on."
"Gentlemen," they were interrupted by Minerva McGonagall, who was waving a bundle of papers at them. "Your timetables. Oh, and Mr Potter for your antics yesterday evening detention with me tomorrow night. I understand that Professor Snape has already spoken for your time this evening."
"Harry! How could you get two detentions already? I know I said I would help you but you need to start out well, you can't just rely on me to …"
"Miss Granger, I believe Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to speak to you," McGonagall said brusquely.
"Oh," the girl was suddenly more subdued. "Did he say when?"
"At your earliest convenience. As you have transfiguration first, I would suggest that you wait until your break."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Seriously though Professor, what could Harry have possibly done to deserve a detention. He was attacked on the train …" Percival protested.
"Do I hear you volunteering for a detention as well Mr Graves?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow, but there was an odd quirk to one side of her lips that encouraged Percival to continue.
"Professor, I protest, you can't punish the victim."
"That is enough, you will join your friend in detention Mr Graves," McGonagall huffed and her angry stalk as she walked away was in direct contrast to the gentle squeeze she gave Harry's shoulder.
"Mean old cow," Ginny said as she took a seat next to Neville.
"Well, if Harry didn't want to get detention, then he shouldn't have been late to the feast, and don't think I didn't notice that you were out of uniform Harry!" Hermione chided. "If I hadn't known that Professor McGonagall was going to give you detention, I would have deducted points myself."
"Hermione, you aren't a prefect so you can't deduct points," Ron said pointedly, as he stood and retrieved his bag from the floor. The rest of the group ignored her and made their way to class.
"Guys?" Hermione called after them. It was typical, they just would not listen to her. She knew what was best, they would all regret not paying her attention. Besides it did not matter that she was no longer a Prefect, it wasn't as if it was going to last for long. That was probably what the Headmaster wanted to meet her about. He was surely going to say that there had been a mistake and the badge had been placed in the wrong envelope.
"Miss Hermione," one of the first years, sidled up to her shyly.
"Yes?"
"Did you really defeat the Dark Lord Voldemort?"
A grin split her lips, well at least someone would listen to her.
"Yes I really did, let me tell you all about it?"
-o0o-
A knock sounded outside his office door, and Severus opened it to reveal the four Gryffindors standing there. They were all doing a remarkable job of playing their parts, looking downtrodden in the extreme. He stepped back and allowed them to enter the room beyond. Once the door had closed, the soft click of the lock was re-enforced by the buzz of wards.
"What a sorry group of students." he said with a smirk.
"We weren't sure if you would have anyone else in detention," Harry explained.
With a snort Severus smiled, "No I always save the honour of the first detention of the year for Gryffindors. Though previously it has always been Mr Weasley's brothers. As they have graduated, I guess I will have to make do with you lot."
Severus had given Ron, Percival, and Neville detentions that day so that there would be a group to walk back to the common rooms.
"Now have you spoken to Minerva about the incident on the train?"
"Not yet but I have detention with her tomorrow," Harry answered truthfully.
"Alright, then first you and I had better look through one of the memories that Dumbledore gave us. The man is becoming quite insistent. Then we will see if we can't find out what Miss Granger has done to you. After that we'll call Sirius. The rest of you can start on your homework or consider reading the chapter on silent casting ahead of this week's defence practical." He indicated for them to proceed through to the adjoining classroom.
"Thanks professor," the boys mumbled making their way to the desks.
Severus closed the door between the two rooms.
"The first is a memory, I believe it came from a man named Bob Ogden. He used to work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This was his first contact with the Gaunt family following a report of Muggle baiting. When the Riddles were murdered it became part of the investigation. How Dumbledore retrieved it from the evidence archives at the Ministry I do not know."
Harry bent forwards, took a deep breath, and plunged his face into the silvery substance. He felt his feet leave the floor, he was falling, falling, through the swirling darkness and then, quite suddenly, he was blinking in the dazzling sunlight. Before his eyes adjusted, Severus landed beside him.
They were standing in a country lane bordered by high, tangled hedgerows, beneath a summer sky as bright and blue as a forget-me-not. Some ten feet in front of them stood a short, plump man wearing enormously thick glasses that reduced his eyes to mole-like specks. He was reading a wooden signpost that was sticking out of the brambles on the left-hand side of the road. Harry knew this must be Ogden; he was the only person in sight, and he was also wearing the strange assortment of clothes so often chosen by inexperienced wizards trying to look like Muggles: in this case, a frock-coat and spats over a striped one-piece bathing costume. Before Harry had time to do more than register his bizarre appearance however Ogden had set off at a brisk walk down the lane.
The little family scene that they were shown was not a happy one. At its conclusion they were both sent soaring weightlessly through the darkness, until they landed squarely back on their feet, back in Severus' classroom.
"I wonder why he wanted me to see that?" Harry mused.
"I believe that he wishes you to find a spot of sympathy for the girl."
"Merope?"
"Yes. I could not understand all that was spoken of course, but I believe that her father was most displeased with her."
"It was because she wasn't very good at magic and then because she liked that boy, Tom," Harry explained. "He looked just like Tom Riddle in the diary."
"Yes, and we know that Riddle later ended up with both the ring and locket that Marvolo was wearing. I think you were meant to deduce that Merope cast some sort of spell, or perhaps gave a potion to Tom Riddle. Their marriage was documented in the local church archives as was the annulment several months later. The reason given was that she had ensnared him with sorcery most wicked."
"So that was Tom Riddle's mum and dad?"
"I believe so. I also believe Dumbledore wanted to show you this so that you would empathise with how she was treated."
"Sure, I feel sorry for her, but that's no reason to spell a muggle! It's not like they can defend themselves. That's just … well I feel the same way I felt when we found Fred and George were selling love potions. It's just not right, no matter how you were treated."
"Indeed. At least when the headmaster asks me next, I can tell him you were sympathetically inclined towards the young lady. Now we need to see about your memories."
After checking and approving of the tutoring that Percival was now giving Neville and Ron in meditation, Severus led Harry into his personal quarters where he had a brown leather sofa and made Harry lie down on it. It let out a small whoosh of air as it took his weight. What followed was a tedious hour of Severus showing Harry how to find his memories. They appeared as little whisps of cloud that he had to follow from one to the next, it was a time-consuming process as many of the threads were intertangled. It was clear that Hermione had done something, and that Harry's magic was fighting it as there was a large brooding storm cloud that seemed to be the foci of all the threads.
"This will take time and patience and, in the meantime, you will be prone to those lapses you have already noticed," Severus consoled the frustrated boy, "However I believe given enough time that you will be able to discover exactly what she has tried to hide without the use of the potion. Even practiced Occlumens with long years of experience have difficulty with this. Most like you, are aware when they have been obliviated, unless the attacker is particularly skilled, which Miss Granger is not. Though she has complicated matters by Confounding you."
"Thanks Severus," Harry tried not to sound as dejected and tired as he felt.
"Do you need more of the muscle relaxant?"
Harry stretched gingerly testing out his muscles.
Severus watched him with shrewd eyes, "I will take that expression as a yes," he commented as Harry winced. Severus removed a phial from his robes and passed it over. "Now we had better call the mutt."
-o0o-
"Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione walked into the Headmaster's office to find the man himself, standing with his back towards her staring out of the window. A sharp staticky silence filled the room, so Hermione slipped into the seat in front of the Headmaster's desk without further fuss, to wait for his attention. Not wishing to draw the man's ire.
Finally, the old man turned, eyes hard and as cold as ice.
"Let me tell you about my day yesterday, Miss Granger," he said in sharply enunciated words, "I went to watch the workings of the Wizengamot."
"Oh how exci …"
He raised a hand in a demand for silence.
"I did not ask for your commentary, I asked you to listen! Since I have been evicted from my rightful place at the Ministry, I try and attend every session. Do you know why Miss Granger?"
The brown curls bounced as the girl shook her head, though her eyes spoke of the volumes of theories she had on the matter.
"Previously I was able to herd them in the way I wished to them to go but now … By watching the workings of the government, one of sufficient experience can see where a little pressure needs to be applied, or where a little … social lubrication placed to ensure that things continue to move along as smoothly as they should. What I was faced with yesterday was an … ambush."
"An ambush!" Hermione gasped.
"Yes Miss Granger, they questioned my workings as headmaster! And do you know who was responsible for the Wizengamot prying into the workings of my school, for them trying to disassemble my secrets?!"
"No! Who would do such a thing?"
"It was you! Miss Granger. You! The person whom I had hoped would be my successor!" he growled; angry red sparks hissed from the tip of his wand.
"No! I didn't!""
"Yes," with a flick she was immobilised, eyes bulging as she realised the depth of her trouble, "you see they figured out that they could ask the portraits for statements as to what happened that night."
"That night?" Hermione echoed faintly.
"Yes, the night that you took Harry to the Ministry!"
"But you knew! You told me to do it!" she protested.
There was a sharp sting as with a slash, she received a cut on her shoulder.
"It was not me. The person you spoke to was Delores Umbridge. I had hoped that you would know your trusted mentor better than to be fooled by something as simple as Polyjuice." Whip! This time the cut appeared on her left thigh. Followed by a stinging hex to the stomach.
Albus Dumbledore waited until he saw the realisation dawn across her face before he threw his fourth spell, "Crucio!"
She knew better than to scream, as the pain of being stabbed with a thousand needles burned across her skin. It left her panting on the floor as he released the petrification. She wiped a hand across her chin to remove the blood from where she had bitten down on her lip.
"I … I'm, s … s … sorry Professor," she apologised getting to her knees. "I … I … didn't realise."
A stinging hex hit her hand.
"I expected more from you Miss Granger."
Sting, cut, sting, cut. Then a final elongated, "Crucio!"
"After all the failures I still expected you to do better. I find myself disappointed," he said sadly as he turned away from her. Released from the pain, she slumped to the floor. "You have already been removed as Prefect. In addition, the Wizengamot has implemented its own punishment in order to avoid trade sanctions. You are being grounded. You are only allowed out of your common room for meals and lessons."
"But … but, my books! The library! How will I study?"
"That is your problem to figure out," he said un-sympathetically. "You have been banned from all trips to Hogsmeade and you will be being reviewed by a mind healer."
"What?! I'm not mad!"
"They insist. In this you are at the whim of the government. I cannot stress this enough; you need to ensure that this mind healer reports that they find nothing wrong. Or the consequences will be severe in the extreme!"
"I understand professor," Hermione bowed her head, acknowledging the warning. It was unfair! She had saved them all and this was how she was repaid.
"I tried you know," he continued more pleasantly, "I tried to remind them that you had beaten Voldemort, but they would not change their minds."
"They will change their minds again when he is resurrected. Then I will show them how wrong they were," she promised earnestly.
"Good!" this time he smiled, and his eyes twinkled.
-o0o-
"Giving detention on the first night," Bathsheda Babbling teased the newly appointed Defence Professor, the last of the Professors to enter the teacher's lounge.
"Well nobody else ever disciplines the boy," he huffed.
"Four out of the six Gryffindor fifth year boys though Severus, I feel I should protest," Minerva complained, though in truth she seemed more amused than upset.
"Mr Potter, was late and out of uniform for the Start-of-term-feast!"
"And none of your snakes had anything to do with that, did they Severus?"
"As for the others," Severus continued as if he had not heard the question, "They were caught, planning to drop dung bombs in the girl's lavatory on the sixth floor …"
"If we are all here, we might as well start!" Dumbledore had wandered into the room and ignoring the conversation the others were engaged in commenced the meeting. "I see no reason to make any changes from last year. So we should be able to jump right in to first impressions of the students."
"Actually Albus," Minerva cleared her throat, "I have found myself struggling …"
"Oh, come now Minerva, you do an excellent job. Your work has always been exemplary."
"Still being deputy, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration professor is taking its toll. I fear things are starting to slip. I found a number of exams while doing my filing at the end of last year that I cannot place."
"Well we all get a little snowed under at times. It's to be expected in a busy school such as this. You just need to be a little more organised," Dumbledore smiled condescendingly at her, "That's how I manage."
"Albus …"
"I can take over some of the Head of House duties," Aurora Sinistra volunteered.
"I'm sure that's not required," Dumbledore dismissed the offer. "Now, let's move along, nobody wants a late night."
"Hang on Albus," Pamona Sprout spoke up, "If Minerva is asking for help, I think we should see what we can do to assist. What is it that you are struggling with?"
"The paperwork for the running of the school is getting beyond me. I am unable to set any sort of office hours to be available to the students and I found not only that assessment, but a series of lectures I had apparently given last year, and I have no recollection of doing so," Minerva stated objectively. "If I have forgotten giving a whole lecture series on Animagi, what else have I forgotten?"
"I think we have the same session free tomorrow, so I'll come and help you sort your lessons out. Aurora can set up some office hours to be a face-to-face contact for the students. Perhaps we can speak to the board and see if there is money in the budget for a personnel assistant to help with the paperwork?"
"They never approved replacement brooms which were a safety risk to the students I can't see them funding that," Severus huffed, earning glares from around the room. "Not that I do not believe it is necessary, just that it took a rather generous donation for the brooms to be replaced, not to mention the desks in the potions classrooms."
"Perhaps …" Bathsheda said thoughtfully, "we could prevail on that concerned citizen again. They were willing to support the school once …"
Minerva glanced around quickly, noting the frown on Dumbledore's face. Hopefully this would go some way to prevent him from obliviating them again. Her quiet enquiries over the holidays had revealed that Dumbedore had attempted to obliviate the heads of both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw along with the Arithmancy and Ancient Runes professors of all knowledge of the extension classes along with Harry's successes in self-studying. Filius being part Goblin had some resistance, which when combined with his skill at Occlumency meant he had recovered all of his memories and was able to share them with Pamona Sprout. The two younger teachers had followed a paper trail from the advice they received of the O.W.L results, assessments they had marked and worksheets and realised they had been obliviated. They had contacted Filius, being concerned that Minerva was too loyal to Dumbledore, to approach for assistance. They had been relieved to discover that that was not the case. Together they had devised a plan for watching each other's backs, monitoring for compulsions and potions and journaling as a back-up.
It appeared the conversation had wound down, without too much protest from Dumbledore.
"Well, if you're willing to take a business case to the board, then by all means do so, Minerva," Dumbledore twinkled, it did no harm her asking he supposed. It would be good for her morale, at least until he ensured the governors threw the idea out. "Now, looking over the results from last year's major assessments … I assume, we are right to continue as we were."
"I have a suggestion," Filius cut in. They had decided it would be best if he floated the idea of extension work, as if the previous year had never happened. "We've been discussing the results and I believe that several of our incoming sixth years, would benefit from an advanced program. Over the holidays I attended a teachers' conference and Ilvermorny has an accelerated learning package which Dilys Smith, their current Deputy Head, has sent me a copy of."
"I hardly think that's necessary," Albus huffed, he thought he had obliviated the idea thoroughly from the man, perhaps he needed a second 'treatment'. "We've always managed the brighter students well in lessons. Keeping all the lessons the same is the most efficient way to teach. There's no need to change that."
"I don't know Albus," Professor Sprout said thoughtfully, "It won't be for everyone of course; however, I noticed a larger number of Outstanding plus results for O.W.L.s than I was expecting."
"As did I," Minerva agreed, "My Gryffindors did very well. Though I do not believe I will have the time myself, with my other duties."
"Perhaps if the board decides to release funds for an assistant," Bathsheda said.
At least one of his teachers was falling in line, he had worried that Minerva was straying but perhaps not. Then it clicked … more Outstanding and Outstanding plus results than expected?! How could this have happened? Did those few lessons they held the year before have that great an affect?
"How many?"
"Sorry Albus?" Pomona blinked at him in confusion.
"How many Outstandings?"
"Oh," she smiled softly, "out of the forty O.W.L students, ten Outstandings and four of those with distinction."
"And the rest of you? Any … unusual results?" At least the students never knew, it was only ever notated as the whole grade on their reports. The teachers received a more in-depth break down. It allowed some leeway when deciding what subjects, the students would continue in N.E. .
"Mine were much the same," Minerva nodded.
"As usual?"
"As Pomona's."
"Mine too, though I did have five students achieve distinction," Filius said proudly.
"Unusually, I had a student that I have results for that I do not recall taking the tests," Professor Babbling said, in a vaguely confused voice. "In fact, a note was attached to the results recommending he, and one other student, be put directly into the seventh-year class."
"Who was that?" Dumbledore asked in some consternation.
"Harry Potter. Yes," she nodded at the shocked face the Headmaster had been unable to hide, "I was surprised too. I thought it was a prank at first. So, I asked the Ministry to investigate. He definitely sat the paper; it was his writing …"
"He must have cheated …"
"Did you forget that I charm all the quills, Albus? Surely you aren't suggesting that after twenty years, I would have made that sort of error," Filius snapped taking offence.
"No … no …" bloody prickly midget! "No, I merely thought perhaps he had snuck his own quill in."
"I had the examiners, review their memories of the exam, Albus. He used the appropriately issued quill and did not move from his seat for the entirety of the assessment. There was no unusual fidgeting to give an indication of hidden notes on any part of the boy's body either!"
"Well, he can't go directly into seventh year!" No that would not do at all, it would give the boy ideas above his station.
"No, it just won't work with his schedule I'm afraid," Minerva shook her head.
"In that case, can I look at that accelerated learning plan, when you're finished with it Filius?"
"Of course, the other option we could use is to expand the number of clubs?" Aurora suggested. "That way they could continue in their current class."
"A good idea," Severus appeared to muse. "Though I wonder then about the behaviour of those that are not sufficiently challenged in class. For example, Draco Malfoy, his potions work is of course exemplary, but if he was advanced ahead of the group, I believe it may not be conducive to a …"
"Oh, never fear," Horace Slughorn chuckled, "I have enough to be getting on with, with my Slug club. I am sure there is quite the promising group coming through, I can't wait to see how far they go. Did you know …"
With that the meeting was effectively ended as Horace monopolised the rest of the time with his stories.
-o0o-
"Why're they so angry at me?" Harry snuffled. He lay his head on Percival's chest, making his shirt wet with his tears.
"That's what parents do Harry," Percival said gently.
"But I was scared and hurt! I know I was stupid but, I honestly didn't think she would do anything on the train! I mean there were kids, like first or second years in her carriage when we got back, and she only told them to go outside. I thought they were still there."
"I know," Percival ran his fingers through the sweaty brown mop, making it an even bigger mess. "But the thing with parent's is, that when they get really afraid that we've been hurt, and then they find out we are ok, sometimes that turns into anger … mostly it's at themselves I think, because they could not keep us safe."
"Really?"
"So, they're not really mad at me?"
"Well you'll have to check, but …"
"Percival …" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Yes."
"You said parent's do this …" Harry blinked up at his boyfriend.
"Yes."
"Sirius, I get but why would Severus do it then?"