Harry must have cried against Draco for ten minutes, but now just staying against him and sniffling lightly. Harry was still in pain, and wounded as Poppy hadn't given him anything to heal with. Harry couldn't believe he'd been attacked in his own house, and he hadn't even wanted any trouble. Draco remained silent and just tried to comfort his friend; it was odd how close they'd gotten in the last few weeks.
Harry had come to see Draco as his best friend, while still holding the others pretty close to his heart. Who knew they'd get along so well and Harry had wondered if this is how it would have been if he'd taken Draco's friendship back in first year, and if he'd allowed himself to be put in Slytherin. It didn't matter now, he was a lion without a den. Harry didn't care what the rules were; he refused to return to Gryffindor Tower.
"Feeling a little better now?" Draco asked Harry softly.
Harry sighed. "Do you want the truth or a bold-faced lie?" He asked.
"I'd prefer the truth," Draco admitted.
"I'm wishing you hadn't talked me out of jumping off the Astronomy tower…" Harry tried to wipe his eyes.
"Well, I'm glad I did. That's no way to go out, Harry. You've got your whole life left, I know the years haven't been easy…But," Draco paused. "Look, killing yourself doesn't fix anything. Alright? It's just gonna pass the pain to someone else. Like everyone who cares about you."
"I know. Merlin, I know that but how I feel right now…I hate it." Harry told him.
"I know, Harry…And I wish I could take it away. We all do…We don't like seeing you like this as your friends." Draco informed. "I can't keep the silencing spell up all night, Harry. I know you're feeling the way you are…But let's fix one thing at a time. Tell me who did this and I'll see them punished."
"You can lower it…Thanks for giving me that little bit of space and privacy from the others, though…" Harry stated. Draco nodded as he backed off Harry a bit, and let Harry compose himself before lowering the spell and flicking the curtains open. Draco put his wand away and kept an arm around Harry's shoulder.
"Now, tell me who did this…Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it. I've got connections…" Draco remarked.
"You sound like a muggle mafia boss. What are you gonna do, Dray? You gonna tell your father?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell whoever, but I'll make sure the people who did this face punishment for it." Draco countered. "Who?"
"Ron Weasley, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan…" Harry sighed. "Nobody stopped them. Everyone was there, watching…No one stopped it. Hermione did scold them…"
"I want to hear what happened." Minerva replied. "Tell me, Potter…"
Harry kept his head down, redrawing his knees to his chest, but winced as Draco saw what looked like blood on Harry's white undershirt. "Harry, my boy…We have to know what they did." Albus tried.
"Please, cub?" Remus asked.
"Hang on…" Draco pulled away slightly and moved Harry's outer robes back to see red marks all over his shoulder, and somewhat on the front of his chest. "Harry, why are you bleeding?" Draco questioned. Harry didn't talk. "Let me see, take off the robe." Harry refused to move.
"Potter, lower your legs and remove your outer robe…" Severus told him. "Now."
Harry complied with the directions, lowering his legs and then Draco was able to open the robe fully and see all the spots on Harry that were obviously cut. "What did this?" Blaise asked.
"Harry Potter, you tell me right now." Draco demanded.
"A tri-mix of Stupefy, Diffindo, and Everte Statum…One after the other, in that order…" Harry said softly. Just loud enough for Draco to hear him, and the male's eyes widened.
"What? What did he say?" Minerva asked quickly. Harry pulled his legs back up and hid his face. "Mr. Malfoy…" She warned.
"They used Stupefy, Diffindo, and Everte Statum. In that order…" Draco revealed.
"Bring those boys here, now…" Albus ordered. "And Miss. Granger as a witness."
Minerva, still in shock of what happened in her own house, turned and left the hospital wing to get to the tower. Draco stayed next to Harry, the rest of the Slytherin friends were trying to be close too and offer whatever comfort they could.
"Poppy, we've seen the damage…Work your magic to heal him." Albus told the medi-witch gently.
"Of course, Albus," Poppy nodded. "Come you lot, out of the way so I can treat Mr. Potter."
The group got out of the way as Poppy used Episkey to heal the minor injuries, then she gave him a few small potions and applied a bruise paste to his back where it had hit from being thrown back. Severus threw in a scar salve for the cuts Harry got from the use of the Diffindo spell.
"He's lucky Diffindo didn't do more damage than it did," Filius sighed.
"I didn't take it full force, I blocked most of it…" Harry stated.
"If you hadn't, those wounds would have been far worse…" Poppy informed. "Considering you were able to put up any kind of blockade after being stunned is rather impressive."
"I aim to do what most consider as impossible…" Harry muttered.
"You do manage to always find a way," Sirius shrugged. "A trait your father possessed."
Harry didn't say anything about the comment of being compared to his father again. "Sirius, not the time." Remus sighed. "Cub…Are you alright?"
"Do I look alright, Uncle Remus?" Harry inquired. "Every student in this school aside from the other three champions, and Slytherin, and the teachers hates my existence for ending up in this stupid tournament. My life literally ends up on the line every single year. Take all that into account and then ask yourself if you should ask me if I'm alright…" He said. "I'm not trying to be sarcastic, or hostile…But there is such a thing as a dumb question when the evidence is quite clear."
"Of course, Harry. I'm sorry…It's my job to ask, though." Remus nodded.
"I'd like to know what's going to be done." Pansy put her hands on her hips. "Harry's right, every year his life is threatened and it's always happening at school. Harry and no other student at this school should ever have to feel like they know that something is going to happen to them."
"Pansy is right." Blaise folded his arms. "It's not just the fact that something major happens every year."
"It happens ONLY to Harry." Theodore added.
"Quirrell in first year. Voldemort's diary in second year. Third year was Sirius Black, but that one actually worked out in Potter's favor. This year…" Draco scoffed.
"Technically, Voldemort was part of third year too. Pettigrew changed sides, worked for Voldemort and sold my parents out to him. He's the reason they're dead." Harry corrected.
"I still don't know why you let the bloody coward live," Sirius huffed. "We had him, pup. We had him right there, at wand point…We could have destroyed him together."
"Sirius…" Remus sighed.
"I told you why I didn't want you two killing him. My father wouldn't have wanted his two best friends to become murderers…" Harry rolled his eyes.
"James would have wanted the traitor killed, and now he's escaped again…" Sirius argued.
"He'll show his face eventually, and when he does; he'll get the dementor's kiss…" Remus told his friend. "Harry's right, Sirius. It wouldn't have done us any good to Harry to end up back in Azkaban for actual murder…" Sirius mumbled.
"Regardless…" Draco waved it off. "What's going to happen to Harry now?"
"What's going to happen to those three?" Gregory asked, motioning to the four Gryffindor students walking in with Minerva behind them.
"We'll handle it. I think it's time you return to your common room. It is after hours, but I understand why Professor Snape sent for you." Albus informed gently.
"All do your respect, Headmaster…We're not going anywhere until this is sorted." Pansy stood firm. The Slytherin students stood on either side of Harry's hospital bed, all holding the same stance of their arms folded over one another and glaring at the four Gryffindors.
"Harry is our friend." Blaise reminded.
"We're not leaving until we know how those three are getting punished for what they did to our friend." Theodore nodded.
"And we know Harry is going to be safe. It's clear he's not safe in Gryffindor anymore." Draco added. "If you do not issue a worthy punishment for this injustice…I will go right to my father and let the board handle it."
"Stay out of this, Malfoy." Ron remarked.
"We're in this, Weasley. Unlike you and your lions, the snakes are loyal to one another." Draco said firmly.
"Harry isn't one of your snakes!" Seamus argued.
"And by the sounds of it, he's not one of your lions either." Pansy grinned.
Severus was surprisingly proud of his snakes for their instant defense of Harry Potter. "Enough." Minerva scolded. "I'm sorely disappointed in you all."
"I didn't do anything, Professor McGonagall." Hermione quickly said.
"Precisely, you did nothing, Miss. Granger. You were clearly present in the tower's common room while he was being attacked. You and the rest of the lions didn't do anything to protect one of your own." Severus scoffed.
"We didn't do anything to him. He's obviously lying," Dean defended.
"Yeah, like always…Just for attention." Seamus added.
"We'd never attacked him, though." Ron nodded.
"Then you won't mind presenting your wands for us to verify the last spells you cast?" Albus asked, holding out his hand. "If you're innocent, then you've nothing to hide?"
The boys looked at one another, then handed over their wands to Albus, who gave them to Severus. "Priori Incantato…" Severus cast as the last spells from the three wands in his hand showed an echo. Sure enough, there was an Everte Statum, Diffindo, and Stupefy shown. "The last three spells collaborate with Potter's story, Headmaster."
"I told them they weren't supposed to attack Harry." Hermione revealed. "It was just supposed to be a small talk about why Harry was hanging with Slytherin if he's a Gryffindor."
"A talk that there was no need for such. Just because you are in different houses does not mean you cannot speak to one another…" Albus informed her.
"But Professor McGonagall said in first year that our houses are supposed to be like our family, and Harry betrayed his family." Ron said.
"Who the hell betrayed who first!?" Harry glared. "You all turned on me over ending up in the tournament that I never wanted to be in! I was obviously set up and the only reason I'm still competing is because I don't feel like losing my magic. That's it. I'm not even competing to win…I don't care. I'm only doing it to survive and even that is becoming less enticing to do."
"Harry!" Sirius and Remus shouted.
"Did you want me to lie?" Harry asked them. "I didn't to Draco earlier when he asked me how I felt…He knows where my head is right now."
"Technically, you asked me if I wanted you to lie or tell me the truth…" Draco reminded.
"Even if I lied, you wouldn't have believed it and pushed until I told you." Harry countered.
"True. But that's only because you're my friend and friends make sure each other is alright." Draco smiled.
"And where is your head at Harry?" Minerva asked gently. "Mr. Malfoy…What did he tell you earlier?"
Draco looked at Harry slightly and Harry just shrugged. "That he wished I hadn't talked him out of jumping off the Astronomy tower a few weeks ago…" Draco confessed.
The room went silent. "Mr. Potter…" Filius, Pamona, Minerva, and Poppy said sadly.
"And when exactly were you on the Astronomy tower…" Remus asked.
Harry reverted back to not saying anything. "Draco, explain this…" Albus pushed.
"A couple weeks ago, I found Harry at the top of the Astronomy tower…Outside of the protective railing and leaning over. We argued about what he was doing, and I eventually got him to come back over. I understood, unlike other people, that Harry wanted no part in the tournament and he didn't enter himself. That he didn't want all the fame and attention, the glory." Draco began.
"None of the Slytherins believe that…We saw how miserable he was after his name was called. We've talked about it plenty of times in the common room, how Harry had to be feeling pretty lonely and rejected by everyone. So just like first year, I offered Harry my friendship and promised him that with it…He'd gain all of Slytherin too."
"We told him that if he wanted to be around people who actually accept him, sit with us during meals and in classes." Blaise informed.
"You should have reported it to a teacher, Mr. Malfoy…" Poppy remarked.
"I did. I told Professor Snape because he caught me out of bed after curfew…I told him where I was and what I'd been doing. He awarded Slytherin fifteen points for helping a friend in need." Draco informed.
"Snape…You knew about my godson wanting to throw himself off the Astronomy tower…And didn't say anything?" Sirius glared. "Do you hate James so much that you'd keep a clear case of severe depression in his own son a secret?"
"Watch yourself, mutt…We aren't students anymore. Unlike you, I grew up after attending Hogwarts." Severus sneered. "I'd never allow my hate for you and James Potter to cloud my judgment on revealing Harry Potter's mental and emotional status. Potter is still a student of mine and I do take care in the welfare of them…I didn't report it because he wasn't inconsolable."
"Draco was able to talk him down, and be told by Potter himself that he knew it was foolish to consider. He doesn't hate his life, he just hates what keeps happening in it. He hates that people he considered family turned their backs on him. I didn't report the attempt because I had my godson's word that if Harry felt that way again; he'd tell me." Severus continued.
"And Harry was back to eating and talking to people until tonight. Where he was attacked by the people who just claimed your house is your family, the people in his own house." Severus explained. "I'll thank you to not accuse me of not caring. I've been in Potter's life more than you, Black, and I've done far more to protect him over the years."
"I was in prison!" Sirius argued.
"Maybe you shouldn't have gone after Pettigrew! Should have let the Aurors take care of him, and you take your place as Harry's legal guardian!" Severus folded his arms over one another.
"Watch it, Snivellus…" Sirius warned. "You're still the same dungeon git you've always been…"
"Least I didn't try to kill anyone." Severus commented.
"That was years ago! When are you gonna let it go?" Sirius said.
"When you admit-," Severus started.
"Merlin…ENOUGH!" Harry yelled as his energy sparked to life and flowed off of him in waves. There was a distinct red aura around him and his eyes almost appeared to be glowing that brilliant green color. The room went quiet. "Stop fighting…One would think you two are purposely egging the other on and it sounds ridiculously close to you bickering like teenagers!" The aura formed around Harry, almost like a burning flame the way it moved.
"Woah…I didn't know you could do that…" Draco stared.
"What was that?" Vincent asked.
"There are some wizards and witches who possess the ability to materialize their magical energy…" Filius explained. "I've never seen it myself…"
"It means that while Harry has his magical ability, in certain settings; it can be seen by others…In this case now, his anger is enough to make it visible. The short version is that he's strong enough that his magic will coincide with his emotions, acting on what Harry feels." Albus admired.
The aura around Harry was red and little wisps could be seen as one ended up touching the hands of Ron, Dean, and Seamus. "Bloody hell!" Ron rubbed his hands.
"And in some cases; that energy can be used offensively. Rare indeed…" Minerva mentioned.
"Hah! Just like his mother. Lily could do that," Remus told Sirius. "That's how we knew when we were in trouble."
"You mean me and James because Merlin knows that you never got in trouble." Sirius folded his arms.
"I knew better." Remus said calmly.
"Easy, Mr. Potter…" Severus told Harry. "Calm yourself. I…Apologize for fighting with Sirius."
Harry closed his eyes and powered down, the aura receding back into his body. "It's not you who needs to apologize, Professor…It's my godfather for antagonizing it. You only defended yourself." Harry informed, surprising Severus a bit. "Apologize to Professor Snape, Sirius…There was no need to verbally attack him, or bring up the past the way you did. It's in the past, leave it there. You're supposed to be an adult, and have outgrown that childish bullying you and my father put Professor Snape through. I don't expect him to forget it, or forgive it…But what you and my father did was awful. Regardless, Professor Snape doesn't take his anger out on me."
"At least not all of it, I do get I'm extremely similar to my father. I don't blame him for hating me; I'm a constant reminder of what he suffered. Even so…I don't hold it against him. What you're doing is unnecessary and uncalled for. You're old enough to know right from wrong. Don't pick fights." Harry scolded. "Now…Apologize to him so we can get on with this. It's late, I'm tired and all I wanna do is the same thing I wanted when I walked into Gryffindor tower tonight. Sleep."
"I'm…Sorry, Severus." Sirius muttered.
"Apology accepted. Now, I do agree with Mr. Potter…What will be done about those three, who physically attacked a classmate?" Severus looked to Albus. "If it were my house, I'd be suggesting suspension or expulsion…As it is, they are not and this is above a head of house's authority. What will be done, Albus? Surely this cannot simply be pardoned with only taking points."
"No, it certainly cannot." Albus agreed. "But first…I need to hear from Harry the entire situation. We know you were attacked, and with what spells. I need to know how this ordeal went…"
"Tell him, Harry…" Draco encouraged.
Harry finally nodded to the request; he just wanted this over with so he could just sleep and that was even if he could sleep.