Chapter 33 – Shifting Sands
In the seconds it takes for Draco to recover from Potter's punch, Potter's bloodied body is on the ground, and Draco can only stare in shock.
Holly's shriek takes him back to the first day of classes after witnessing Uncle Severus bash Potter's head against the window.
He swallows at the sight before him, feeling bile rising, and moves forward, to do what; he doesn't know.
Another, unexpected, punch to the temples sends him reeling, but he doesn't have a chance to see who it is as he's blitzed with blow after blow. He feels his nose crunch under the massive fist. He's not able to open either of his eyes. And he's struggling to breathe from the weight on his chest.
"Dudley, stop! Please, Dudley! He's my son! Don't hurt my son!" he hears his mother's voice pleading.
It's not long before he loses consciousness.
ooOoo
Tonks curses at the chaos before her. She'd been following Umbridge since Moody and Fletcher pulled her in this morning for an unexpected shift (It should have been her day off!) to tell her that they believed the Medallion deal was happening in the Hogs Head.
So she'd been on standby to wait for Dung's signal, ready to intervene.
"Dung? You still here?"
"Yeah," Fletcher's voice says hoarsely.
"Go get my mum. Now. She's with …"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll go," Fletcher says, though not in a dismissive way. Fletcher might be a cowardly low-life, though even he understands the urgency of the situation. The same way Tonks understands that he won't return once her message is delivered to her mother.
Tonks knows some basic field healing. However, hearing the spell Umbridge sent towards Harry, Tonks knows she'll need a more experienced healer like her mother. And Merlin knows what spell Draco used.
She secures Umbridge, ensuring she's tightly bound and still out cold, before taking the wand for evidence. Levitating the pink toad, Tonks carelessly drops her close to the chaos but far from Harry's body. She feels tears prickling her eyes at the sight. So much blood...
"I've sent Dung to get Mum," Tonks tells Narcissa, who is kneeling down next to Holly, who's staring at the blood on her hands in shock.
Narcissa looks torn between Holly, Harry and her own son.
Tonks conjures up as many bandages as she's able to. She doesn't know where to start healing Harry, and all she can do is dab helplessly at the blood. This will take more healing expertise than Episkey, which she uses anyway and is proven right. Tonks knows she is completely out of her depth and wills her mother's presence to arrive sooner.
"Move aside. Move aside. What happened here?" Snape's furious voice rings above them.
No one answers.
ooOoo
Earlier that morning…
Despite Lucius's attempts to extract the name of the witch Severus bedded from his lips, Severus has remained steadfastly quiet.
He eats his breakfast Lucius summoned and drinks copious amounts of coffee. He didn't mean to fall asleep, but he's feeling refreshed after the impromptu nap and much more clear-headed.
He won't be seeing Tonks any time soon, and if she's a smart enough witch, she'll know better than to bombard him with letters like Jasmine had.
"You'll spill soon enough," Lucius promises, looking too amused for Severus's liking.
Just to be spiteful, Severus forces Lucius to walk instead of taking a carriage. He knows his brother is feeling antsy, wanting to see Narcissa soon. Even though she and Regulus won't be picking Holly from the Three Broomsticks until noon, which is only half an hour from now, Severus believes Lucius hopes to be there sooner as Narcissa may already be waiting in the pub. Really, they could have taken the Floo but Severus decides not to volunteer that bit of information.
Lucius's strides quicken as soon as they pass the gates of Hogwarts, to Severus's amusement.
However, as they near the pub, Severus's good mood vanishes as they see the gathered crowd.
"Some imbeciles got into a fight, I bet," Severus mutters angrily. He'll be deducting so many points from the offenders that their House will never be out of the negatives. And detentions until their grandchildren graduate.
"Move aside. Move aside. What happened here?" Severus snaps loudly as he pushes his way through, with Lucius following closely behind.
His attention is immediately drawn to Narcissa on the ground with a catatonic Holly.
Is that blood?
Who dared hurt his daughter?
He immediately goes to Holly first, reaching out to touch her to assure her that he's here for her and that he'll punish whoever dared harm her.
"Hol-" he begins to say as he touches her shoulder, but she comes awake at the feel of his touch and screams in distress and with a cry from her, he's knocked backwards by a wave of magic.
As is everyone in the immediate radius, all are knocked flat on their backs.
When he manages to scramble Holly's side again, his daughter is unconscious in Narcissa's arms.
"Help me," a voice snaps him back to reality.
Startled, he realises it's Tonks, the last witch he wants to see.
"I can't stop the blood. I don't know what spell Draco used," Tonks says in a shaky voice.
"Draco? What? What happened?"
"Sectumsempra," Narcissa answers in a tremulous voice, tears streaming down her face, holding Holly tightly to her chest. "Draco used Sectumsempra."
Severus pales at the words. Draco used his spell? His mind quickly puts the pieces together. Draco used his spell, and if Holly is this distressed, then it can only be…
He forces his eyes to the sight he'd previously ignored…
Potter's deathly still and bleeding body as Tonks wipes ineffectively at the wounds.
"No," he whispers.
ooOoo
"I am disappointed in you. All of you."
Blaise has never been subjected to the Headmaster's disappointed gaze. In fact, disappointment has never been an expression that's ever been levelled in his direction. Not by anyone. Not by Mother, or any of his stepfathers. Not by his family or relatives. And definitely never by any of his teachers.
He's heard that Dumbledore likes to use this tactic to cow his students. And even as he admits it's a tactic, Blaise feels it's an effective one as he finds himself unable to meet the Headmaster's eyes.
"I would like a full explanation of the events that occurred," McGonagall asks in a clipped voice from her position behind Dumbledore.
Despite her expressionless face, it's still easy to discern that their teacher is upset.
They are gathered in the Headmaster's office.
An additional healer from St Mungos had been called in to help with the number of students injured, but everyone else's injuries were minor when compared to Potter's.
From the Slytherins, in the room apart from Blaise, there is Theo and two seventh years. From the Hufflepuffs, there are Wayne Hopkins and Justin Finch-Fletchley. From Ravenclaw, there's Terry Boot. From Gryffindor, there are all the Weasley boys, the Creevey brothers, Longbottom, Thomas, Jordan, Finnegan, and some fourth-year students. From the girls, there's no one from any other House apart from Lovegood from Ravenclaw, as she's Potter's girlfriend, as well as being a witness and only Granger from Gryffindor.
From the teachers, all Heads are present, apart from Snape, who's been brewing various healing potions for Pomfrey, Andromeda Tonks and the other Healer from St Mungos. The blood replenisher had been one of the potions that was batch brewed – twice.
As all other injuries had been minor, they'd been the last to be treated, so Blaise had heard alot of the activity. Blaise didn't know either spell used, but seeing Potter as he had been...
Regulus and Professor Malfoy are also present. Their presence is a silent shadow at the back of the room.
One by one, they all give their accounts of the events that occurred. Most had been involved and subsequently injured because they had seen the fighting and jumped to try and separate everyone and drag them, but as always happens in a fight, things escalated.
The students presenting those accounts are dismissed back to their Common Rooms. Following the incident in Hogsmeade, Dumbledore forced all students to return to Hogwarts. All students, even those who weren't in Hogsmeade, had been ordered to return to their Common rooms. The evening's meal would also be served in the Common room.
The Weasleys and Longbottom have been allowed to stay, as are Lovegood and Granger. Flitwick and Sprout, however, also take their leave.
With most of the others gone and the room much less crowded, Regulus and Professor Malfoy step forward.
Mrs Malfoy remains by Draco's side. The boy who had beaten Draco, quite severely, Potter's cousin apparently, refused to leave Holly's side, remaining silently vigilant by her side while the Healers worked on Potter still.
Professor Malfoy looms over them. Though his expression is neutral, the fury in his silver eyes is evident to see.
"Explain yourselves," he says coldly.
Professor Malfoy's last words to all of them, when they'd come to collect Holly, had been that Holly was their responsibility.
They were meant to keep her safe. Look after her. They'd all failed. Now, neither Professor Snape nor Malfoy would ever trust them again. Not with anything and especially not with Holly. The thought brings Blaise down more than he thought it would. He's become fond of Holly.
The Slytherin way is usually to admit to nothing. If blame can be laid elsewhere, then that's the way to go. And though, objectively, all the blame can be laid at Draco's feet, Blaise still tries to find a way to try to make it not all seem like it was Draco's fault.
"The truth," Professor Malfoy insists, and Blaise recognises it for the permission it is.
"Holly wanted to use the ladies' facility and asked Draco several times to come back to the Three Broomsticks so she could use it. Draco said he still had a few things he needed to get and asked her to hold it a little longer and promised her he'd be quick.
"First, we were at Honeydukes, and then Draco insisted we go to Gladrags. Everything took longer than we expected, and Holly asked to go again. The Hogs Head was the closest pub to us, but Draco wouldn't let her go there at all" (probably the only smart thing Draco did today). "Draco asked me and Theo to help him with picking out his gift for Pansy. None of us realised when she left the store. We looked around the store first and then headed back to the Three Broomsticks, believing she'd gone there to use the loo."
"Holly was stopped by Daphne Greengrass and her sister," Regulus took up the narrative. "Holly, apparently too desperate to wait any longer or walk to the Three Broomsticks, decided that the Hogs Head was her best option. The Slytherin girls tried to stop her but realised how badly she needed the loo and were prepared to follow her in. That's where Narcissa and I found her."
Blaise swallows at the hidden anger in Regulus's voice yet also finds a rising frustration. He'd told Draco to try the Hogs Head because it was closer. But the blond insisted that the girl wouldn't have gone there because she knew it had been forbidden. However, he swiftly remembers that they never explained why exactly it had been forbidden.
Blaise simply wishes he hadn't listened to Draco. Though truthfully, there had been an element of guilt in his actions that day. Draco's continued occupation with all things Potter had everyone except realising the true reason for it.
Though Pansy had always remained steadfastly loyal to Draco, even she could only tolerate so much of Draco's obsession with Potter. Their breakup had been a long time coming, and because Blaise knew Pansy was going to dump Draco, it had fuelled his own actions that he'd supported Draco's attempts to placate Pansy at the detriment of their responsibilities to Holly. Futile as those efforts would have been.
As if reading his thoughts, Professor Malfoy asked, "What was so important about his shopping that he couldn't spare a few minutes to take Holly to use the ladies?"
Blaise exchanges a look with Theo and reluctantly admits to his friend's father, "Pansy and Draco broke up today. Draco was hoping to make it up to her and resume their relationship."
"I see," the elder Malfoys acknowledges. Blaise can see that Professor Malfoy also knew that there would be an imminent end to Draco's relationship with Pansy. Their professor turns away from them.
Blaise continues to explain their actions, which admittedly had been all the wrong actions they could have taken. In a way, he'd been glad when they'd met Potter, who had taken swift charge. Potter's protectiveness over Holly had fuelled many conversations within Slytherin.
Professor Snape had hurt Potter really severely on the first day of term, and it still hadn't stopped Potter from associating with Holly. And Holly's loyalty to Potter had been returned when she'd smashed everyone's potion samples when Draco destroyed Potter's.
Not to mention Potter's takedown of Yaxley in the Duelling club. Yaxley is still licking his wounds. Blaise knew Potter would have been able to find Holly. He hadn't even hesitated to try to involve a teacher, which is something Draco, and admittedly Blaise, had been too afraid to do, as they hadn't wanted to suffer Snape's or Malfoy's wrath.
Draco's irrational anger and jealousy had taken over today, and nothing Blaise or Theo could do would have stopped him. Even Blaise realised it stopped being about Holly when Potter took Lovegood's hand when he'd turned his back on them to look for the missing girl.
"I tried to stop Weasley from interfering," Theo admits when it's his turn. "He didn't know what was happening, and it was just a misunderstanding when he thought I was trying to fight him."
Ron Weasley had jumped straight into the brawl when he came up to the crowd to see what happened. Though Blaise couldn't fault the other boy for doing what he did, he also wrongly assumed that the other Slytherins were always involved. As he always did. Weasley flushes in shame at Dumbledore's disappointed eyes on him.
"Professor?" Granger pipes up when everyone is silent, and all accounts are taken. "Who was that witch in pink? What was that spell she used? And the spell Malfoy used on Harry?"
Dumbledore doesn't answer immediately. He looks over at each of them assessingly before returning his gaze to Granger.
"The witch in question is Delores Umbridge," Dumbledore finally answers. "She was previously an Undersecretary to Minister Fudge but had been demoted due to some suspicious activity. Had I not been able to hire Professor Malfoy, then Madam Umbridge would have taken the post. Madam Umbridge was a... person of interest in an ongoing investigation conducted by Auror Shacklebolt and Tonks. From what I understand, she still holds a grudge against Professor Malfoy, and it looks like it was an opportune moment for her to take revenge on young Mr Malfoy.
"As for the spells, they're both dark spells," Dumbledore sighs. "The one used by Mr Malfoy is a dark version of the Cutting curse, with a particular counter curse. Luckily, Professor Snape was on site quickly to perform it.
"And the one used by Madam Umbridge is an old and not a particularly well-known Curse. It is used to re-inflict any injuries the victim might have suffered in the past. Make them feel the pain they have experienced before. Re-open old wounds."
Blaise doesn't miss the grim glance exchanged by Regulus and Professor Malfoy.
Granger gasps, bringing her hand to cover her mouth.
"Being hit by one curse would have been bad enough. But to be hit by both at the same time?" Dumbledore heaves a more profound sigh. "It simply overwhelmed the poor boy. Harry has suffered many injuries during the school year alone. To feel them all at once?"
Granger looks green, as do the other Gryffindors, as they exchange horrified glances.
Weasley grimly adds, "Harry also told me he was hit with several Cruciatus Curses in the graveyard."
Longbottom seems to have lost battle with nausea and vomited immediately upon hearing that.
Blaise feels his own stomach rebelling.
"I'll take you back to the Hospital Wing, Mr Longbottom," McGonagall says sympathetically, magically Vanishing the sick.
They are all dismissed and taken back to the Hospital wing for a Stomach soother. They are also asked if they want to remain in the Hospital wing if they are feeling ill.
Potter's friends insist on staying but McGonagall says, "Unless you are feeling unwell, I would prefer for you to return to your Common room."
The Gryffindors reluctantly agree, though Longbottom is dosed with a Dreamless sleep potion and put to bed furthest from where Madam Pomfrey and Mrs Tonks are still working on Potter. The others are offered Calming potions to take before they go to bed.
Potter's cousin doesn't look up from Holly to acknowledge their presence. Blaise and Theo do give Mrs Malfoy a nod as she looks up at them. Blaise also notices the sad look she aims at Potter's cousin.
Potter's showing himself a force to be reckoned with. Blaise and the others have been observing from the shadows, to try and see what made Lucius Malfoy defect from the Dark Lord. Whatever he'd seen, whatever the other defected Death Eaters had seen in the graveyard in June, had them convinced that a fourteen-year-old boy could best the most powerful Dark Lord in recent memory.
Blaise's mother wasn't a Death Eater, and though she'd managed to remain out of the war last time, Mirabel knew she couldn't stay out of it this time. So she'd allowed Lucius Malfoy to persuade her and placed Blaise under his protection.
He's beginning to see what the defected Death Eaters had seen. Potter had taken down Yaxley in a masterful manner. The patronus that had remained active the whole time he'd duelled the older Slytherin boy.
He'd also protected Holly today in the most powerful way. Without his wand.
He recalls with great clarity the shield that had appeared over Holly when Potter had seen Umbridge aiming towards them. It seemed Potter had learned from his mistake in the duelling club and learned to cast the Shield Charm wandlessly to protect his sister. Last time, he'd been too far away, but this time, he didn't even look in her direction. He'd just cast it instinctively like he'd been practising it.
Blaise wonders what other abilities the Boy Who Lived is hiding. He'd discover them all eventually. In the meantime, he will ensure that no smart Slytherin would dare to try to attack Holly for fear of Potter's wrath. Potter had revealed his wandless ability for a reason. Blaise knows how to use the rumour mill to his own effect. They'd heard another of how Potter had almost decimated the girls' dorm in Gryffindor because he'd heard Holly crying. He's unsure how much truth is in that, but it's been circulating for weeks. Potter's protectiveness of Holly is fast reaching legendary status.
Blaise likes Holly for herself. Yet, to remain on Potter's good side, they would need to ensure that Holly is well protected.
He exchanges a silent glance with Theo before they enter the Slytherin Common room. Draco's proven himself an unreliable leader. It's up to them now to ensure that no harm ever comes to Holly. They need Potter to understand that.
In the meantime, it's time to let other factions know that any efforts to hurt Holly, as Yaxley attempted, will be met with swift force from more than just Harry Potter.
Holly had more than the protector who didn't even need a wand to cast a spell.
ooOoo
No one breaks the silence as they wait for McGonagall to return.
Regulus can feel Lucius's gaze on him, but he's had to retreat inside his own mind to keep himself calm.
Thirty minutes pass by when McGonagall returns with Narcissa and an extremely exhausted Severus.
Narcissa perches on the edge of the chair vacated by Hermione, Lucius laying a comforting hand on her shoulder while Severus slumps into the one beside her, hiding his face in his hands.
Regulus allows a full minute of silence before he bitterly announces, "Congratulations. You gave birth to a Death Eater."
Narcissa flinches violently.
"You should be proud," Regulus continues in the same bitter voice.
"There's no need for that," Severus defends in a weary tone.
"No need?" Regulus repeats incredulously. "Tell me, Severus. How many Blood replenishers did it take before Harry almost overdosed? How many more will it take for him to recover?"
Dumbledore, and McGonagall, who has taken Blaise's seat, watch silently, not interfering.
Severus looks away instead of answering, but when he does turn back, he tries to bluster, "Perhaps if Potter hadn't provoked-"
Pinning his one-time friend with the stoniest look, Regulus says in a chilly voice, "Blame this on Harry. Go on."
Severus flushes and wilts under Regulus's look.
"Let me tell you exactly what happened, Severus, since you have missed the whole briefing," Regulus begins in a frosty tone. "The boy you trusted with your daughter's life ignored her very basic needs because he was too busy trying to salvage his ego. Meanwhile, the boy you're trying to keep away from your daughter, the boy who would always put Holly's needs above his own? That boy is fighting to live for the sin of trying to protect her."
Regulus goes on to give a concise summary of actions Harry took to save Holly from the spell she could have been in the crosshairs of, while Draco deemed fighting Harry more important than finding Holly.
Severus has no arguments to give.
"Tell me, Severus, do you really believe Holly will ever consent to be alone with Draco ever again, even if he hadn't cursed Harry?" Regulus asks rhetorically.
"I was only trying to reconcile-" Severus tries to defend his actions.
"Oh, trust me, Severus, everyone, including Harry and Holly, knew exactly what you were trying to do," Regulus scoffs.
"He made a mistake," Narcissa speaks up, though her voice is weak. "He's just a boy."
"That boy," Regulus starts scathingly, "needs to suffer the consequences of his actions."
"We need to discuss this calmly, Regulus," Lucius says, stepping away from his wife to face Regulus fully.
"We are so past calm at this point, Lucius. Your son tried to kill mine!" Regulus bellows.
"Potter is not your son," Severus snaps, standing up. "Why do you defend him against Draco, who you share blood with?"
"Harry is my son in all but blood, Severus. I demand that Draco be made to suffer the consequences of his actions. There needs to be consequences. You bought your way out of Azkaban, Lucius - perhaps Draco should –"
"My son will not be sent to Azkaban," Lucius snaps, even as Narcissa sobs.
"No one will be sent to Azkaban," Albus interrupts firmly before Regulus can answer that.
"Then expel him," Regulus retorts.
"There's no need to expel him," Severus protests.
"Regulus, please. He's just a boy. You'll ruin his future, his life," Narcissa cries.
"It's the least he deserves," Regulus says firmly. "Had it been the other way around – if Harry had cursed Draco this badly, you'd be pushing for the harshest punishment."
"You speak of consequences and actions?" Severus hisses. "You were a Death Eater too. Have you forgotten? The Mark is on your arm the same as it is on mine and Lucius's. The Mark we all accepted willingly. Why are you pushing so hard for Draco to be punished so harshly? You hardly suffered any consequences of your actions. Have you forgotten how many people you sent to Azkaban to save your own hide?"
"I shall not be expelling Mr Malfoy," Albus says before matters can escalate.
"Don't be a coward, Albus," Regulus says derisively, deciding Severus didn't deserve to know how Regulus redeemed himself. That's not a story he will share with someone as obstinate as Severus. The Potions Master's redemption is centred around Lily Evans, and Severus is doing a piss poor job of honouring that dead woman's memory by treating her son the way he does. "You've never made anyone suffer the consequences of their wrongdoing. Try to step up for once."
"Now, hold on a -" McGonagall objects.
"Like your brother?" Severus taunts.
Regulus levels Severus with another cold look, "Sirius would have deserved it too. Perhaps if he had been expelled when he should have done, you might have been less bitter than you are now. Perhaps you might not have that Mark. Then, again, you just needed an excuse. Any excuse would have done. Not so different than how Draco has acted."
Severus works his mouth furiously.
Regulus continues to speak, "If you don't punish Draco as he deserves, Albus, I'll be taking Harry out of school myself. And if Harry leaves Hogwarts, Severus, you know Holly will follow him. I will take them both far, far away from here."
"You think you can just take my daughter away from me?" Severus says, trying to sound threatening, though his voice is weak and his lips pale. He knows how tenuous his relationship is with Holly.
"Try me," Regulus goads. "Make your decision, or I will make mine."
He walks out without waiting for an answer.
ooOoo
"Holly?" Dudley says softly when he sees the girl stir.
It's close to seven in the evening now. He hasn't left Holly's side since they were brought to the Hospital. He never expected the day would turn out like this. This morning, he'd been so excited when Regulus told him that they were going to visit a magical village.
Visiting Hogsmeade had been like a dream. He'd bought his favourite chocolates that Harry had been sending him over the years, bought some magical books and comics. A scarf and beanie hat that had been spelled to remain warm. He doesn't know where his purchases are, and they are the last thing on his mind.
He didn't understand what happened. Not fully. He'd seen Harry get hit by that spell, and he'd just reacted. He'd been so angry.
He never thought he'd ever get to visit Hogwarts, but he's inside a magical school, yet right now he's thinking it's the last place he wants to be. That's not a thought he believed would have ever crossed his mind.
"Harry!" Holly gasps as she fully awakens, looking around frantically.
Dudley wishes he could assure the girl he's come to love like a sister that Harry is okay, but just thinking about Harry lying so still is enough to have his eyes prickling.
"Why does everyone keep hurting Harry?" Dudley asks instead, his voice cracking.
He knows Holly understands what he means. With a sob, she throws herself at him in a way she never has before.
"Where's Harry?" she asks once she has herself under control, pulling away slightly, her face streaked with tears.
"Er, sleeping," Dudley answers, still holding her.
Andromeda and Madam Pomfrey only finished working on him an hour ago. The relief Healer from the magical hospital left not long after, with the assurance that he'd return if they needed him again. Andromeda and Madam Pomfrey, both looking exhausted, are resting in the Medi-witch's office.
"I want to go see him," Holly demands.
Dudley doesn't argue.
"Come on," he says. He leads Holly by the hand to the bed on the other side, partitioned by curtains.
The medical professionals hadn't let anyone behind the curtain, not wanting to be disturbed while they were trying to heal Harry.
Harry's laid up in bed with the covers neatly drawn up to his neck. From the brief glimpse Dudley got before the curtains were drawn, Harry has more scars to add to his already horrific collection.
Holly immediately but carefully climbs onto the bed, looking like she wants to press herself against Harry's side but is wary of hurting him even more than he's currently hurting.
"Where's everyone else?" the girl asks.
Dudley sits in the chair next to Harry's bed, grateful for how comfortable it is.
"Um, Regulus is using the Floo to give Tonks a message," Dudley answers. He doesn't say it to Holly, but it's to explain Dudley's absence to his parents.
Dudley hadn't wanted to leave until he knew Harry and Holly were okay, so Regulus went to sort things out. Truthfully, Dudley doesn't want to return home at all this weekend. He doesn't want to go home to his parents who hurt Harry all his life. Not after witnessing Harry getting hurt once again and being too helpless to do anything about it.
"Er, your dad-"
"He's not my dad," Holly interrupts bitterly. "He's nothing to me. He tried to make me stay with Draco because he didn't like me spending time with Harry. He'd only let me go to Hogsmeade with Draco. I wish I'd stayed in Hogwarts. Uncle Regulus and Aunt Cissa could have picked me up from Uncle Albus's office."
"Why does he hate Harry?" Dudley questions tentatively.
"Because he's a bully," is the immediate reply. "And he's showing Draco that it's okay for him to be a bully too."
"Er, Draco? He's in the other bed. His parents are with him, I think. Or they were. There are curtains around his bed, so I don't really know."
The strict-looking teacher who'd been back with a bunch of students had made sure to put the partition around the boy. Which Dudley is glad for; otherwise, he might have given in to his impulse, a scary impulse, to smother the blonde with a pillow.
"Your da- er Snape, he's fallen asleep in one of the other beds. Andromeda put some curtains around his bed before she left," Dudley tells the little girl.
Holly doesn't acknowledge this.
ooOoo
Despite his exhaustion, Severus can't simply fall asleep.
When he hears Potter's cousin call Holly's name, he moves to go check on his daughter, but he's stopped by Lucius's hand on his arm.
Lucius puts a finger to his lips, then casts a Silencing spell on their area. Even with the spell, Lucius drops his voice to a whisper.
"Now's a good time to listen first," his brother tells him, which is a default move from Lucius when it comes to all sorts of spying.
Reluctantly, Severus doesn't go to his daughter as he immediately wants to, though he does sit up on the bed. And listens in mounting misery of the conversation happening between his daughter and the boy he doesn't know, but knows his daughter well enough to wipe her tears.
He flinches when she calls him a bully and how he's okay with Draco being a bully, too.
Her voice carries in the otherwise silent ward.
"Remember what Oma used to say?" Holly eventually breaks the silence. "About two kinds of people?"
"She said people are either kind or they're cruel," the boy, Dudley, answers. "A kind person can turn cruel if they're pushed hard enough. And a cruel person only pretends to be kind when they really want something."
"Harry promised he'd never let anyone hurt him again," Holly says with a sob that breaks Severus's heart. "The Professor hurt him really bad on the first day of classes. Because of me. And Draco hurt him today. Because of me."
"Oma also used to say that a cruel person only needs an excuse to hurt someone," Dudley replies. "Anyone who wanted to hurt Harry, they didn't do it because of you. They did it because they wanted to. You're simply an excuse they used."
Severus's breath hitches as they unknowingly echo Regulus's words from earlier.
"At least Uncle Luc pretended to like Harry. He knew it would make me happy. The Professor and Draco couldn't even pretend."
Lucius's hand, still holding Severus's arm, tightens its grip as the blond takes in Holly's words. Severus turns in time to see Lucius's hurt expression. Severus doesn't know what to say to make his brother feel less hurt. Not when his own heart is breaking.
Holly's words are like daggers through their hearts. Lucius thought he had a good relationship with his goddaughter. Yet, to find out that she believes that Lucius's kindness and camaraderie towards Potter is an act? Severus doesn't understand where she got that impression from.
"I – I want to go away," Holly confesses. "I don't want to stay here. I don't want to stay where people hate Harry and want to hurt him and try to keep us away from each other."
Severus's breath hitches.
"I bet Draco won't even get punished," Holly says with breathtaking resentment.
Regulus's words in Albus's office come flooding back to Severus's distraught mind.
"If you don't punish Draco as he deserves, Albus, I'll be taking Harry out of school myself. And if Harry leaves Hogwarts, Severus, you know Holly will follow him. I will take them both far, far away from here."
Severus shakes Lucius's now loose grip and moves off the bed completely. Lucius doesn't try to stop him. Severus has enough awareness to realise Narcissa also heard the whole conversation. He steps out of the curtains to see Regulus standing just outside of it.
"Silencing Charm?" he mouths.
Severus nods frantically. Regulus, placing his hands on Severus's forearms, pushes the Potions Master back inside the Silenced area.
"I begging you, Regulus, please," Severus pleads frantically. "Don't take my daughter away from me. I promise I'll be better. I'll treat Potter better. I won't hurt him. I won't hurt anyone. We'll work something out about Draco. I'll tell him I was wrong about everything. Please, Regulus. Don't send Draco to Azkaban. He doesn't deserve that. Give him another chance. I'm begging you, Regulus. Give us both another chance. We'll do better."
Severus continues to throw words at Regulus. He can't lose his daughter. He can't. He's lost too much already.
Regulus doesn't say anything as Severus descends into sobs against his shoulder. He doesn't see Regulus's pained expression above him. Doesn't see the unshed tears in Narcissa's eyes. The determined expression on Lucius's face, or the way he lays his hand protectively on Draco's still bruised forehead.
Holly's voice echoes around them, not done airing her own grief to Potter's cousin.
"What if Harry becomes cruel because other people keep hurting him?"
ooOoo
Dudley reluctantly follows Regulus through the Floo. Though Regulus cleaned the blood from his clothes with a spell and he'd washed his hands and face thoroughly, he still wouldn't mind a proper shower. However, he doesn't want to leave Harry and Holly behind. Madam Pomfrey had given Holly a child dose of Dreamless sleep, to help her for tonight.
Dudley's been handed a Calming potion to sleep instead.
After his conversation with Holly, Dudley fell into his own thoughts. He's not sure what to feel because there's so much going on. He's angry that someone hurt Harry yet again. He's bitter about being helpless. Furious as he thinks about Draco's being able to get away with it.
Sad that Harry just keeps suffering because of other people. Why do people keep hurting Harry?
What had he done to deserve it?
Dudley comes through the Floo to Grimmauld Place in a daze. He doesn't even remember the journey from the Infirmary to the Headmaster's office. He'd been too wrapped up in his thoughts to appreciate he was walking through one of the most magical places in Britain.
Dudley stares unseeingly at the ground. He doesn't notice Sirius, Remus and Tonks waiting for them in the parlour.
Sirius jumps up straightaway to ask questions but uncharacteristically stops himself when he sees Dudley's state.
Regulus turns around and reaches for Dudley's shoulder while saying, "Why don-"
Dudley comes awake at the touch in a way he hasn't before. All the anger and fury erupt from him like a dragon defending his territory.
He pushes Regulus's hand away violently, following immediately with a right hook, which he puts his whole body into.
"YOU LIED TO ME! YOU PROMISED ME NO ONE WOULD HURT HARRY AGAIN! YOU LIED!"
Shocked at his behaviour, Sirius and Remus reach for him, but Dudley's already horrified at his actions when he sees Regulus spitting up blood from the ground.
The apology gets stuck in his throat. With a grunt of frustration, Dudley pivots and pushes past Sirius and makes his way to the gym in the basement.
He doesn't bother with gloves or wrapping up his hands. He's too angry. He goes straight to work on the Punching bag, venting all his anger, disappointment and aggravation on the inanimate object.
He's not aware of Sirius entering the room to silently observe him without interfering. When Dudley exhausts himself twenty minutes later, drenched in sweat, hands red and sore, he rests his head against the much-abused Punching bag, hugging it for dear life as he stops his arms from trembling.
He stifles a sob as he slides down to his knees without letting go and can't stop his shoulders from shaking.
Sirius helps him move to sit against the wall, sitting on the ground beside him. Dudley brings his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around his legs. He's still shaking.
"We used to call it Harry hunting," he says eventually.
ooOoo
Sirius wants nothing more than to be at Harry's side.
First, he'd reluctantly put aside his misgivings about Snape's daughter coming to visit, but after a stern talk from Regulus and Andromeda, Sirius had no choice but to keep his gob shut.
Only to have Dung apparate back to Grimmauld Place for a second time that morning, saying Andromeda was urgently needed to heal Harry in Hogsmeade.
Since then he's waiting anxiously for news about Harry, having no clue what had occurred.
Tonks was tight-lipped about everything that happened, and nothing Sirius could say would persuade her to talk.
So Sirius spent all day on tenterhooks waiting for news about Harry. Neither Regulus, Narcissa or Andromeda had returned for almost the whole day.
Regulus briefly returned earlier in the evening to deal with Dudley's parents, and only after his return did Regulus give Tonks permission to tell Sirius what happened in Hogsmeade.
Sirius was torn between fury at wanting to storm the castle to rip Narcissa's son to pieces and feed him to the Acromantula colony in the Forbidden Forest and drinking himself into a stupor at being unable to be at Harry's side once more.
The root cause of all this?
Holly, of course.
Harry was hurt by another person because of Snape's daughter.
Sirius knew she was bad news.
Sirius wanted nothing more than to say 'I told you so' to Regulus, to Narcissa, to Tonks – hell, to everyone who tried to tell him he shouldn't blame a girl who wasn't even raised by her father for other people's actions. It didn't matter to him. Harry was hurt. Again. Because of this girl everyone is so determined to protect.
Who's protecting Harry? No one. Everyone seems intent on taking their pound of flesh from Harry, who's done nothing but love the wrong person.
Sirius was quite ready to lay into Regulus when he returned from Hogwarts yet again. However, seeing the lost look on Dudley's face silenced him.
Sirius watched as Dudley punished himself by pounding the Punching bag. It's an action he recognised pretty well. It doesn't sit right with Sirius to see the ordinarily jovial boy so angry. Not even sixteen, and he looked like he'd lived a whole life. Like Harry.
Sirius waits until Dudley exhausts himself, then helps the boy to a sitting position against the wall, sliding down next to him. Seeing Dudley looking so vulnerable makes Sirius feel sad. He wishes he knew how to help Dudley.
Then Dudley speaks: "We used to call it Harry hunting."
Sirius doesn't react, though he is confused.
"My dad never likes anything that isn't normal. And his view of normal is very narrow."
Sirius vaguely remembers Vernon Dursley. He'd met the man once when James and Lily had dinner with Petunia and her then-boyfriend. Sirius had helped James play a joke that the humourless lump hadn't appreciated. He and James laughed as if they'd pulled off something great, but Lily had burst into tears when Petunia stormed out.
Sirius didn't get why at the time. He couldn't even remember what they'd done to Vernon. He'd thought it was funny, whatever it was.
"And my mum, she hated anything to do with magic."
Lily told them that Petunia wished she was a witch, too. Sirius put it down to jealousy. He'll soon be horrified at how that jealousy manifested in terms of their treatment of Harry.
"I grew up thinking it was normal to hurt Harry. My mum and dad did it every day. They found it funny when I copied them. They even encouraged it. Even when I wasn't at home. When we started school, I made sure everyone knew what a freak Harry was. That's what Mum and Dad called Harry, so that's what I called him, too. I made sure everyone knew that he couldn't afford clothes and that he was wearing my old rags. I used to make sure my old clothes were ripped and ready for the bin before I let Harry have them. I even made myself cry on purpose when Harry got any of my good clothes."
Sirius listens in silence, not uttering a word, almost not even daring to breathe. It's taking Dudley a lot to confess all this, and as much as Sirius doesn't like the content, it's a unique insight into Harry's life before Sirius escaped from Azkaban. And there's a reason Dudley is confiding all this. So, Sirius will listen without judgment because Dudley's not the same boy he used to be and clearly got a second chance from Harry.
"I didn't like it when people talked to Harry," Dudley continues in the same broken voice. "He didn't deserve it. But I made friends with this boy, Piers Polkiss. We were best mates. We liked all the same things. He didn't like Harry because Harry dared to stand up to him. So we used to pick on Harry. We called it Harry hunting. We'd hurt anyone who tried to make friends with Harry. So, people stopped trying to talk to him because they knew me and Piers would get them. Then we made more friends, Malcolm and Dennis.
"They were new. They tried to make friends with Harry but changed their minds when me and Piers threatened them. So there were four of us against Harry. He had no one to help them. Sometimes teachers tried, but we were sneakier."
Sirius jolts involuntarily at that. His mind automatically begins to make unwanted parallels, but he shies away from it and continues to listen to Dudley.
"When we'd catch Harry, Piers held his arms behind his back and I know it hurt Harry. I didn't care, though. It just made it easier to hit Harry, so I used to punch him in the stomach lots. My dad said it's better that way because you never want to leave a bruise where it can be seen."
Dudley hasn't looked up from his knees the whole time he's recounting his tale, so he doesn't see Sirius fighting to keep his expression neutral.
He balls his hands into fists, wanting to go punch Vernon Dursley's lights out.
"He used to take me out for ice cream or sweets whenever someone complained about me beating Harry up. So I started doing it more."
Sirius closes his eyes. Vernon rewarded his son for hurting Harry.
"Dad said it was okay. Right? It's just Harry. It didn't matter if Harry got hurt. He exists, and he didn't deserve to. He was a freak, so hurting him was okay. Even the teachers stopped trying to interfere. So Harry had no one. Until Oma and Holly became his family."
'Well,' said James, appearing to deliberate the point, 'it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean …'
The words drift into Sirius's mind.
"Malcolm used to tell me to back off, but I never listened. Me and Piers loved beating Harry up. It was fun and easy. Malcolm stopped defending Harry because he was afraid we'd turn on him," Dudley says with a hitch in his voice. "Malcolm used to pretend he was bored but Dennis used to follow Harry and then came to find me and Piers so we could beat Harry up together. He wanted to be like me and Piers, see? He thought we were like kings in the playground. Kids were always afraid of us. And if we couldn't find Harry, we'd just hurt someone else. Just because they were different. Just because we could. No one could stop us."
Dudley finally loses the battle of holding back his tears and breaks down, burying his head between his knees. Sirius hesitantly put his hand on Dudley's heaving shoulder, wishing he had the words to make him feel less awful.
Dudley says between hitches of breath. "Harry helped me with something, even if he didn't have to. And Dad punished him for it. And that's when I realised what my Mum and Dad were wrong and what we were doing to Harry was wrong too. Oma made me realise I was only hurting myself."
Sirius slowly pulls an unresisting Dudley closer.
"Oma gave me another chance. Told Holly and Harry to give me another chance. And I've done my best to be a better person," Dudley says, looking up at him. "I'm – I used to be a cruel person. I know that. But I'm better now. I'm not a cruel person anymore, and I'm not pretending to be kind, either. I promise, Sirius," Dudley cries desperately. "I promise I'm a better person. I'm not cruel. I'm kind now. I'm not pretending. I'm not pretending, Sirius. I'm a kind person. I swear, Sirius. Please believe me."
Sirius pulls Dudley into a hug, the boy's arms clenching him in a tight embrace as he weeps on Sirius's shoulder. Sirius doesn't understand the significance of Dudley's last words, but they mean something to the boy Sirius has come to love like a younger brother, so he assures him.
"You are, Dudley. You're a good boy. A kind person," Sirius whispers comfortingly.
Dudley whimpers, "They're going to go away, and they're going to leave me behind. I don't want to stay with my parents. I have no one else. I don't want to be alone. I'm so sorry, Sirius. I'm so sorry. Please believe. I'm so sorry."
Sirius finds his own eyes prickling at the other boy's distress. He takes a deep breath and continues to hold the boy close as he turns his head away. He sees a healed Regulus sitting on the threshold of the gym, though his jaw is still bruised.
His brother gives him a sad smile.
Later, when they take Dudley up to bed, who'd fallen into an exhausted slumber from a combination of a long, emotional day and his equally emotional confession, Sirius tells Regulus in a low voice, "I understand now, Regulus. I get it. I'm sorry, too. I'm – I don't want to be a cruel person."
"You're not," Regulus says softly.
ooOoo
It's almost midnight when the Common room empties and the other students head up to their dorms. With everything that happened, it feels like Hermione's been awake for a week. The feeling reminded her of when she used the Time-Turner in her third year.
Hermione wasn't surprised to see the Common room full when she and the others returned from their interview with Dumbledore. For one, it was still early. For another, everyone had heard of what had occurred in Hogsmeads and anyone who wasn't there wanted to know more gory details. Hermione found it disgusting the way people wanted to know everything as if they were entitled to that information.
There was a table on the far side of the Common room where the evening's meal was set up, buffet style. Most students stayed a little later once they finished the meal and continued on as usual.
Hermione had gestured to Ron that she needed to speak to him, which he had acknowledged with a nod.
They expected the Weasleys to remain. However, Hermione is surprised to see the rest of Harry's dormmates, as well as her own. The rest of the Quidditch team. The Creevey brothers. Many others that Hermione didn't know well enough and is surprised to see how well they seem to connect with each other. She frowns as she recognises most of them as the students who had changed their faces resemble the film version of the Oompa Loompas in the first Duelling club session.
"Do you really think Harry's going to be okay?" Colin asks the twins.
"I don't know," Fred confesses. "Malfoy's spell was bad enough. The second spell caused most of the damage."
Hermione had regretted asking about the second spell when she'd heard Professor Dumbledore's answer. To feel all those injuries being inflicted all at once? She's afraid for Harry's mental state. No wonder he'd passed out before he hit the ground.
"Was Holly okay?" Angelina asks.
"We didn't get to see her. After her accidental magic, she passed out, too. Harry's cousin, Dudley, didn't leave her side the whole time we were there. Not even to be healed. The Healer from St Mungo's had to fix him up by Holly's bedside."
"Professor McGonagall did tell us it would be a while before Harry woke up," Ron informs them. "Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep Harry asleep for as long as possible."
"He's going to need a lot of dittany to help clear those scars," Hermione says with a shudder. Most of everyone had focused on Harry's chest, but Hermione remembers the livid scar on Harry's forehead. As if someone had taken a knife and carved the lightning bolt afresh.
Hermione's glad for the Calming potion she's been instructed to take before bed. It's supposed to help mute some emotions, but she wishes she could have had a Dreamless Sleep potion instead.
Someone brings up the topic of Holly again, and Hermione sees Ron frown at her name.
"What does it matter? She's going away for a few weeks anyway," Ron shrugs.
Hermione suppresses a sigh.
"What's your problem with Holly?" George asks, holding back his twin from snapping at Ron.
"What do you mean? I don't have a problem with Holly," Ron denies.
"Please," Angelina snorts disbelievingly, "you've only been telling Harry to drop her since the beginning of the year. Since Summer even, if what Ginny says is right."
"Harry only got cursed today because of Holly," Ron says bitterly. He looks to Hermione for support, but she shakes her head. She's staying out of this.
She agrees with Ron that Harry should stay away from Holly. But not for the same reasons. She doesn't blame Holly for Harry getting hurt. But Holly is the cause of the two occasions Harry's been fatally injured. Truthfully, she doesn't understand why Ron is jealous of Holly. He never used to be when Harry used to talk about her all the time in previous years.
Besides, everyone knows Snape's had it in for Harry since the first Potions class. And Harry doesn't help himself by never putting any effort into his Potions like he does for all the other classes. Snape will never let Holly and Harry be the brother and sister they claim to be. Hermione's just trying to look out for her friend.
"I'm not the only one who thinks that way," Ron says, giving Hermione a resentful look at being abandoned. "Even Hermione thinks Holly should be kept away from Harry. It's safer."
"Oh, we know," Fred scoffs. "You two aren't exactly subtle."
Hermione's cheeks turn pink.
"Hermione might be less vocal, but you've both made it clear how you're happy to have Holly going away," Dean says derisively. "We don't understand what you've got against her. She's done nothing to you."
"I don't have a problem with Holly," Hermione says defensively. "I just don't think she should be in Hogwarts. She's too young. You have to be eleven to be a student here."
"Hermione, you don't have to start quoting Hogwarts: A History to us," Lavender rolls her eyes.
"Is the book too advanced for you?" Hermione replies cattily. "Not enough hair and make-up tips?"
Parvati shakes her head at Lavender and drags her friend away.
"Don't bother to argue with her, Lav," the other girl says. "Hermione doesn't like listening to other people's opinions if they don't agree with her own."
Hermione flushes and opens her mouth to argue but gets off by Seamus.
"Come on," he says in a thick Irish tone, "it's time for bed."
"If you think Holly's going to leave Harry's side after today," Fred says derisively, "you're more delusional than Malfoy."
Everyone leaves, muttering amongst themselves.
"Thanks for having my back," Ron derides, turning away from her also.
ooOoo
Weary beyond belief, Albus walks into the Infirmary long after everyone else has fallen into an exhausted sleep.
Poppy comes out of her room, the wards having been triggered by his presence.
"My apologies, Poppy. I do not mean to disturb your rest," Albus says with a look of contrition.
He looks around the ward. The last time this many beds had been occupied had been due to the Chamber of Secrets fiasco a few years ago. The cause of which is sleeping a few beds over.
The Malfoys are all huddled in one area. Severus is in the bed next to them. Minerva had had words with him about divulging too much about the spell Delores Umbridge used, but hiding the information would have been useless. Miss Granger would have looked it up and found out anyway. He does regret the distress caused to young Neville at finding out Harry had felt every Cruciatus in the split second before he passed out. Of course, the fate of his parents would have been the first thing that would have come to Mr Longbottom's mind.
A second bed has been placed next to Harry's, the curled up figure of Holly coming up to the edge of her own bed, almost teetering over into Harry's. The tear tracks showing starkly against her pale skin of how she cried herself to sleep.
Albus and Poppy take their seats next to Harry's bed. The Hogwarts matron looks as tired as Albus feels. Poppy pretends not to see him put up Privacy wards.
Albus knows better than to assume that any of their occupants are actually sleeping.
"How is Harry?" Albus finally asks.
"He's a resilient young lad," Poppy says, her voice hitching a little. "Always been a fighter, that boy."
Albus nods, looking at Harry with a tremulous smile. Regulus only left to take Dudley back. Unfortunately, Albus couldn't allow the boy to stay. He's glad Harry has some blood family on his side after everything he's been put through by Petunia and Vernon. He never expected Petunia could turn on Harry as she did. And he realises how late he is in saving young Harry.
"When will he awaken?"
"I refuse to let him wake up any time soon, Albus," Poppy says sternly, looking ready to defend her decision. "That boy has a higher than normal pain tolerance due to everything his so-called family put him through. Yet, he couldn't tolerate the pain he's in now. Not without losing his mind."
"As you believe is best," Albus sighs without argument. The mind is a delicate instrument. Liable to snap if put under too much pressure.
"Regulus has threatened to remove Harry from the school if I don't fittingly punish Draco," Albus confides in his long-time colleague and friend.
"The man talks sense," Poppy says bluntly. "Draco could have killed Harry with his spell. It hit Harry point blank. The other spell…"
Poppy's voice breaks.
She takes several breaths to collect herself.
"How is his head?" Albus asks, bracing himself.
Poppy, knowing he is asking about his famous scar.
"It'll heal. It might stand out a little more starkly for a little while longer. Regular applications of dittany may help reduce it back to its original state."
Albus allows a grimace to adorn his face.
Besides the scars on his back, courtesy of the Dursleys, Harry also had to deal with the re-opening of the wounds inflicted by creatures he'd encountered over the last few years, namely the basilisk bite and the acromantula piercing his leg. Not to mention all the broken bones and bruises he's accumulated over his lifetime.
Albus has no issue with Harry's body fully healing before he awakens.
"How is he alive?" Albus questions with a shake of his head.
"There was a moment…" Poppy trails off. "I thought his heart had stopped."
Albus gives her a sharp look before turning his gaze back to Harry.
"It did not?"
"Just a murmur," Poppy replies after clearing her throat.
Still, Albus's mind starts racing. Had Harry's heart stopped, would that have been enough to release the Horcrux? Technically, he might have been dead.
He shakes the thoughts away. Poppy confirmed that Harry didn't die, even though he would have been on the brink. Nonetheless, he shamefully admits in the recesses of his mind that it could have solved their Horcrux problem.
Deliberately bringing himself back to the earlier topic, as he does not like the path his mind wandered down, he probes, "What do you suggest Draco's punishment should be?"
"It's my job to heal, Albus. Running the school, disciplining the children – those are your duties."
"I – do not believe expelling Draco is in the boy's best interests," Albus confesses. "Nor is sending him to Azkaban."
"And if he doesn't serve the consequences of his actions, what message would you send your students then?" Poppy asks archly.
Albus has no answer to that.
Poppy's expression softens, and she says, "I know after what happened with Hagrid, you don't want to punish someone undeserving. But mark my words, Draco Malfoy is not undeserving of any punishment. He is not as innocent as Hagrid was back then. If you do not, you will lose the trust of people whose trust you can't afford to lose."
"Does that include yours, Poppy?" Albus asks, though he knows the answer.
"It does, Albus," Poppy confirms.
Before Poppy makes to leave, he requests one last bit of information.
"How is Draco?"
"He'll be ready for your decision tomorrow," Poppy says, then corrects herself upon realising it's after midnight. "Or rather, later this morning."