[a/n1]An observation: Not that I obsess on stats, but it seems readership has plummeted as compared to my prior HDD anthologies. Have other current writers noticed similar falls? Is it the whole JKR controversy? Because I've read a few stories that abruptly cut off with a "I'm not writing HP anymore" statement.

[a/n0]And yes, RyanChess, a trope is still a trope no matter who tells it 😊

[a/n]Again, not a sequel, but a different outcome. Thanx Vukk

Harry Does Different CDLXXXIVe

CruciLoo 3

"Teeheeheehee! Teeheeheehee! ! Teeheeheehee! ! !" the famous Moaning Myrtle was decidedly not in her usual haunt. On this occasion, very late at night, the ghost girl was gleefully circling above the sleeping Sixth Year girls. Not at all affecting any one of the privacy drapes as she went through and through, over and over again. Between the cackling she alternated "OOOhhh it's awfullllll! Awfully Amazing! !"

It didn't take long for the living to stir, Hermione managing to be either first or loudest "What could you POSSIBLY be so excited about!? And what are you even doing out of your bathroom!?"

"Tha'bloody'ell!?" came from behind the curtains of the bustiest of the dormmates. Her speech patterns had recently altered some thanks to her relationship with a particular redhead.

Hermione had little patience for her "Oh shut up Brown! And is there some reason, Myrtle, you've decided to delight us with your company? I do have to be up late tomorrow night for an Astronomy exam."

"You should visit my loo. Somebody's been a baaad boy. Teeheeheehee!" the ghost swept all around the room, stopped right in front of Hermione's face. Nodded happily. Then vanished, seemingly in four different directions at the same time. Only echoes of giggling remained.

abcij

The redhead looked sleepily at his female best friend and grumbled "That crazy spook woke you too, huh?"

"Indeed, Ronald." The witch replied coolly, barely repressing a flare of jealousy, not that he noticed "Apparently we are both wanted in a loo. Not someplace you belong."

He snorted "Really, Mione? Never mind Second Year, huh?" Ron ignored the fact that she ignored the comment.

Abcij

"Wait'll you see! Wait'll you see!" the see-through bluish phantom greeted the Gryffindors at the entrance, minutes later. She was entirely too pleased with herself "Well? Hurry up! Go on!"

Ron looked from one female to the other. He paused to note that the ghost floated right in their path to said destination, shrugged, grabbed the living one's elbow and pulled "Righto! As you say, Myrtle. You heard her, Mione." They both yelped in outrage at the action, which took the living pair through the ghost.

"RONALD!" Hermione was horrified and disgusted by the sensations evoked and turned, preparing to take it out on the cause. And stopped herself, gasping "Ohmigod! It's Harry! Ron, you can run faster than me. Go get help. Madam Pomfrey would be my choice."

Here, Myrtle swept close and giggled "It's too late. He's dead. Hope he remembers his promise to share my ubend."

"Right. Back in a flash." And he was gone almost like apparition.

"What?!" the preternatural wail of anguish from Myrtle "He was dead! I know it! YAAAHHHHHHHH!" And she ripped the air all around until splashing back in her toilet.

Abcij

The first sounds of morning intruded on the Hospital Wing's waiting room. A pair of administrators looked upon a boy and girl sleeping together. The witch with disapproval, but she couldn't summon anger "Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley." When there was not immediate movement "Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley!"

"Professor! Eep!" squeaked Hermione "We weren't- - I mean b- - well we were but not that way. What I mean- -"

Ron on the other hand, groaned, stretched, burped and scratched himself before becoming aware. Completely oblivious he'd done anything embarrassing, asked "How's Harry?"

"The news, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger" the Headmaster …with effort… ignored McGonagall's look of distaste, and Hermione's blush. In light of things, it was just unimportant "is very grave. Madam Pomfrey has diagnosed your friend as having been repeatedly exposed to the Cruciatus Curse. Arrangements are being made to transfer him to St. Mungo's for further evaluation. Harry's injuries are beyond her skills. I hesitate to say there is no hope of recovery …but well… there you have it."

The young witch immediately brought out her wand and, handing it over, using a flat tone said "Ronald, you too. Professor, Finite Incantatum will show what spells I've used lately. Please do it."

"Miss Granger! Neither you, nor Mr. Weasley, are under suspicion!" here McGonagall seemed more Head of Gryffindor than anything else "I assure you the thought never crossed our minds."

Nudging her friend and shaking her head, Hermione insisted "Please Ronald! Headmaster Dumbledore, here now, you must. Whoever did this must not be allowed to obfuscate under the premise that we both know the spell and had the opportunity."

"What she said." Was Ron's response, offering his wand. "Then take us to Harry."

Passing his wand over those of the teens, Dumbledore still spared the attention to scold "Careful of your tone, Mr. Weasley. Now …some of the stronger Defense spells, but Severus has been teaching those. Housekeeping? I might suppose those suggested by Molly. Innocuous. Nothing even borderline dark, let alone Unforgivable." After returning the wands added "Come along then."

Abcij

"Mr. Potter is in a magically induced coma." The Mediwitch informed them. "The plan is to transfer him to St. Mungo's where, POSSIBLY, he has some hope of recovery. He may or may not move, however he is lightly restrained. He may or may not speak, which or may not have meaning, but I would not so assume."

"Can't you wake him, Madam Pomfrey?" asked Ron, his tone part plea part demand "He might tell us who did it."

She replied lecturing "I want you both to be very clear. Treating your friend is beyond my ability and Hogwarts' resources. There are few ways to help Mr. Potter recover, HOWEVER, there are a great many ways to push him into a total permanent and irreversible mental collapse. Your two voices MAY POSSIBLY be the only ones that could help. But you will only talk cheerily about the weather, or some such trivia."

"But surely, ma'am- -" Hermione began a protest.

Cutting the young witch off Poppy snarled "Knowing what I just told you, I would… should you violate my directive …file charges of being an accessory to an Unforgivable."

"Yes Madam Pomfrey." It was two very subdued teens that left the adults to discuss matters on that level. Though barely a minute later, Hermione hot on his heels a furious Ron, clutching his wand, was raging "I'll have Malfoy's arse on a plate! I will! Slytherin scum is dead!"

The Headmaster's wand instantly flashed "Arresto Momentum! I believe that violates at least one of our Mediwitch's strictures."

"Please sir." Both students' were slowed in their walking, but not speech. Hermione spoke for the pair, because Ron was doing a fair imitation of Vernon Dursley "We did nothing to distress Harry. I promise that. Several times, while we sat there however, he repeatedly said the name Draco Malfoy. And so far as we know, he was following him before we found him. The inference is a logical one."

To this the Headmaster gave a thoughtful tug on his beard, then decided "Very well. You two will follow me to my office. Professor McGonagall, you will collect Mr. Malfoy and his Head, as well as either Pomona or Filius as a neutral observer. We can have this settled on way or the other before the Sun rises."

"Very well, Professor Dumbledore." She replied in a curt tone "We shall gather in your office as quickly as possible."

On the way Dumbledore admonished the students "I want it to be abundantly clear, both of you, nothing has been determined beyond a doubt at this point. Further, no action, direct or otherwise, may be undertaken by either of you. In furtherance thereof, you will surrender your wands to me forthwith. Or, simply speaking, you will be barred from the coming meeting."

"Yessir." Ron's compliance with the order was almost rebellious.

Abcij

The blond Slytherin went on the offensive the moment he entered "What are these subhumans doing here?"

"I'll bet the House Elves are smarter than you, Draco." Sneered Hermione.

He was rather more practiced on the facial expression "I was including you in the description, Granger."

"Why you!" Ron was magically immobilized by the Hogwarts elf, following the Headmaster's orders.

The teen witch flashed a smile "Well, thank you, Ronald, but it is unnecessary. I could just give him another fat lip."

"And when was the FIRST one, Miss Granger?!" the Head of Gryffindor was appalled.

She shrugged "As it occurred BOTH two years ago AND while under the kindly influence of a time tuner I can logically argue the incident is outside the statute of limitations."

"Let us get down to brass tax, children …Professors…" the Headmaster silenced everyone "To summarize, Harry Potter - "

Snape sneeringly interrupted "And Minerva had to wake my whole House for the brat?"

"Whoa! Ya bloody git!" this, to everyone's shock, came from Hermione and not Ron.

The Head of Slytherin looked beyond nasty "That will be a hundred points from Gryffindor you insufferable-know-it-all!"

"That will be TWO hundred points from Slytherin for YOUR namecalling, MR. Snape." The Deputy Headmistress intervened.

His tone could have sliced concrete "How dare you speak to me- - -"

"When I see someone acting like a child I treat them as one." She shot back "And I base a point ruling on that person's place in his or her group. Thus, I expect more of Miss Granger than I do of …well, let us not name another. And YOU are the leading Slytherin, so as your senior administrator, I act the same."

With even a momentary break, Dumbledore interjected "Back to the point! Young Harry has fallen victim to a very dark attack. Poppy is in process of transferring him to St. Mungo's for specialized treatment from exposure to the Cruciatus curse. And, no Mr. Malfoy, that is nothing to smirk about. There is, perhaps, some justification that Mr. Malfoy MAY have had some involvement with the incident. I wish it clearly understood that you are not a suspect, I was merely hoping to eliminate you as even a person of interest. Would you be willing, Draco, to have your wand examined?"

"I most certainly WILL NOT!" the Slytherin student was appeared outraged "How dare you accuse me! NO! Obviously, you didn't. It's the fault of the Mudblood and Blood Traitor. Playing puppet to them, as usual?"

The Headmaster held up a restraining hand "Peace, Minerva, everyone is entitled to an opinion. And Draco may certainly voice his. However, I think a five point deduction is justified for use of profanity. While we'll not go into details, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley have presented a reasonable circumstantial argument for at least placing you at the scene."

"Mr. Malfoy" the Head of Slytherin sneered delicately "you are not exactly in a position to disobey. Unless, of course, you feel you could defeat the Headmaster in a duel."

Draco shot him a look of betrayal, protesting "Wait'll my Father hears of this." Nevertheless he slowly pulled his wand and pushed it across the desk handle first.

"There is a generally dark aura about your wand, my boy." Said the Headmaster as a flow of magic weaved around both magical tools.

Ron slapped his knee in victory "See! What we been tellin' ya!"

"But, unfortunately for your suspicion Mr. Weasley" Dumbledore's tone was a bit distracted, but also relieved "your classmate's wand is free, so far as I can tell, of any use of the Cruciatus Curse. And rest assured, my skills could not be deceived by any Sixth Year. Draco, I thank you for your cooperation in this matter."

The Malfoy youth snatched back his wand, resentfully and sneered "You'll pay for this, old man." He turned for the office door, but paused to flash a look at his classmates.

"What do you mean by that look!?" accused Hermione.

He shrugged innocently and looked at his Head "Professor? What's she accusing me of now?"

"I do think we have had enough of this insufferable-know-it-all." Declared Severus coldly.

Ron reacted typically, yelling "GIT!"

"We will disregard Mr. Weasley's emotional outburst." Dumbledore flashed a glare at the boy "Severus, please return to Slytherin with your charge. Everyone else may go as well, except for Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, who will remain long enough to ensure there be no public unpleasantness. By tomorrow I trust emotions will have calmed. Again, Mr. Malfoy, I thank you for your cooperation."

Abcij

After frog-marching his godson through the halls and Common Room, Severus locked his office door and slapped up every privacy ward in the books, and a couple that weren't. He snarled "Did you not pay attention, boy?"

"What do you mean, Godfather?" asked Draco with an air of arrogance. Which lasted until he yelped in terror, facing the business end of a glowing wand.

Severus gritted out harshly "I instructed you precisely how to act. And not. I should think you had enough subtlety to not raise Granger's suspicions."

"Stupid Mudblood." The student snapped.

And the Head of Slytherin slapped him, hard. And ignoring the spluttering of the teen he went on "My referring to Granger as a know-it-all is something the cleverer Slytherins have all caught on. While arrogant as Potter, hers is well deserved. You are a fool to underestimate her just on blood status. That gloat of yours was plain stupid. As it is, I am sure I barely managed to mask the use of Cruciatus on your wand. Likely, coupled with Dumbledore's assuming he was looking for school-level spells and not mine."

"I doubt my father would appreciate you hitting me." Draco said, angry but cowed.

Patience already fraying, Snape seized the boy by the throat "I managed to keep you out of Azkaban and its charming guards. Fooling other children and our Headmaster is one thing, and as good a test as we will get. I still have not figured how best to keep the Dark Lord from giving you the same treatment you gave Potter."

"Me! WHY?" the boy's fear of that far outweighed the hand squeezing his windpipe "I landed Potter next to Lardbottom's parents! That should secure my House a place at the Dark Lord's right hand!"

"Sound in theory!" Snape did not loosen his grip even slightly, or bother acknowledging the childish namecalling "You might find yourself hoping for Potter's recovery. He is not quite rational when it comes to that arrogant brat. And he very specifically ordered none but HE may kill Potter. Now, would you prefer your Godfather between you and HIS wrath, or whine about a bloody nose?"

Being freed of the chokehold was not much comfort to the boy.

Watching pg3