Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Epilogue - Chapter 83
The morning after the Yule Ball, things started moving slowly at Hogwarts.
All students had breakfast mostly as normal, if normal meant the usual grogginess due from too much smuggled alcohol and teenagers going to bed way more late than it was healthy for them.
Rumors were spreading around the various tables, but it was mostly about new couples or amusing and painful slaps given by some girls to boys with long hands. In fact, a few claimed that one girl must have really got angry as some spell casting, maybe even a full blown duel, had been observed in the gardens the night before.
Nevertheless, most students took everything in stride. Bar the younger ones, especially male, that had been excluded by the dance and were still bitter about it everyone else was still enjoying the afterglow of the big event. No one has ever seen so much intermixing among Hogwarts students, with house tables accomodating students of all uniforms and even nationalities. Almost everyone felt sleepy and happy.
After breakfast, though, there was a true retreat to the various common rooms. Not only to sleep a bit more – and plenty did exactly that – but also to start preparing their luggages. A sizeable share of the students had chosen to remain at school only for the ball and now that it was over they wanted to go back home and enjoy the rest of the new year's break with their families. Understanding, Hogwarts had organized a special train for those kids set to leave the following morning.
It was only near lunch time that more worrisome rumors started to spread. Everything began with Durmstrang: slowly, with gossip filtering through the British boys and girls that had either befriended or started to date some of those guests, it became known that their headmaster Igor Karkaroff had disappeared overnight. More importantly, he left without warning or even without leaving some message. A wary suggestions that he, too, might have had a bit too much fun the night before and was now sleeping drunk somewhere else was rejected completely, with an offended reply that "their headmaster never does that kind of things. Ever."
It might have remained a curious but harmless anecdote if Hogwarts students didn't start to notice how their own headmaster too, Dumbledore, was nowhere to be seen. More importantly, he didn't show up even while several aurors in uniform arrived at the castle mid morning and started examining the grounds. In particular, a couple of them had been observed going inside Slytherin's common room – with Snape, too, nowhere to be seen. All questions addressed to Slytherins about what the aurors did inside were left unanswered, but the glare they gave in return was an answer on itself.
"Give me that" asked Justin to Ernie, uncaring of everything, as the other boy was pouring some juice into his cup. They had all walked slowly to the Great Hall, for lunch time, and there was a certain buzz filling the space.
"Hard to believe we were dancing here only yesterday" commented Susan, looking around, before sneaking a glance to her own date for the night, an older Hufflepuff, sitting nearby. "They removed most of the decorations already" she added, disappointed that she couldn't draw his attention.
"Good things can't last forever" added Megan, mouth half full as she spoke. "Something those two lovebirds should remember. I guess I did too much of a good job" she concluded with a smug smile.
"Now, I don't want to repeat what I said this morning" started Zach, frowning, only to be interrupted instantly. "Then don't" said Wayne, coldly, receiving a glare in return.
"But" pressed on Zach, still glaring at Wayne "They should learn some manners. I don't care if they got drunk and busy yesterday, crude as that would be already, but…"
"But nothing" countered Wayne, tapping the table with his fork and interrupting him again. "We don't know what they did or even if they were together, and whatever reason there is for their absence is no excuse for you to imply... that. Don't make up stuff behind their backs."
"Hear, hear. His are good manners, Zach" added Ernie, friendly, his gaze being distracted by the owls arriving inside the hall, most dropping various items, letters and newspapers. Zach glared at him, and then shrugged. "Yeah, whatever."
"They were together, though" added Megan, self satisfied. "All thanks to me!"
"Thanks is a debatable word" said Susan. "Sally should move on, and Harry is clearly not interested. I saw him yesterday with Greengrass, they were stuck to each other all night."
"I knew it" said Justin, smirking, quickly swallowing down some food. "She is easy on the eyes, and that's all that matters. Harry, Harry…"
"I warned Sprout of their absence" added Hannah, suddenly, her eyes downcast. Everyone turned towards her.
"….why?" asked Susan, eventually.
"That's a low blow, Hannah" added Megan, frowning.
"Yeah, way to stab your friends in the back. You just put them in troubles, and…" added Justin, only to get startled by sudden shouts of confusions erupting around the hall. Everyone turned to check but, seeing only small groups of students gathering around, they turned inward once again.
"I don't care. It's Harry we are talking about, and they have been missing all night. It could be…" continued Hannah, unsure. "I feel better knowing that Sprout is aware."
Some awkwardness descended on their section of the table, as the chaos around them kept rising. Eventually, Ernie spoke. "Even if you mean well, what if they truly are… away, together?"
Hannah shook her head. "I'll say I am sorry and ask for forgiveness. I am not so sure about Sally, but Harry will understand."
"If you say so" commented Zach, sarcastically, restarting to eat.
"What was her reaction, anyway?" asked Susan. Hannah frowned.
"She just remained silent, for a while. It was a bit weird, her face…." said Hannah, frowning. "Then she told me that they would find him, not to worry and to go back to my room."
"How encouraging" commented Zach, sarcastically.
"Even so…" started Wayne, only to be interrupted by a couple of younger hufflepuffs pushing against him – one of the groups of gathering students growing close to their spot on the table. "Ok, what is happening now?" he complained, stressed. When none of the kids answered him, he grabbed one of them by arm – a first year, judging by his round face – and ordered an explanation.
"I have no idea" was his answer. "They said there is a big story on the Prophet and everyone is reading it."
Wayne sighed and let the boy go, while Ernie – with a small smile – stood up. "My girlfriend has a subscription. Give me a second" he said, walking away.
"You know he just wanted to brag about them becoming official, right?" whispered Megan. Susan giggled in return, and then sneaked another glance towards her own date. As he, too, must have been looking at her she turned quickly back toward the table, blushing and smiling.
As Ernie walked to Ravenclaw's table, the noise inside the Hall reached his peak. Surprisingly, none of the faculty members sitting at the high table were doing anything to stop it. The few there – Dumbledore, Flitwick, Snape and McGonagall still missing – didn't seem to be interested in anything but themselves, and were busy reading a copy of the Prophet just like their younger charges.
Once Ernie returned, his face was pale. "I begged Morag to loan us this. It's about us." He spread the Prophet on the table, roughly pushing away a couple of kids that tried to get closer, glaring at them until they retreated.
The main story was obvious, written in such capital letters that everyone in their group could read it even from a distance. "Do You-Know-Who's back?" was the title, with an animated photo of several adult wizards on their knees, surrounded by aurors with wands drawn. "I heard Skeeter was a disgusting woman, but to treat this as a joke…"
"Your black lord is back?" asked Justin, with an amused smile. "It is big news I guess, but what does that have to do with us?" he asked, looking at Ernie. The boy gazed at him flatly, and then tapped on a side article in the corner.
"Boy Who Lived is now dead" read Justin, his voice dropping as he did. "Oh."
"It's like she is enjoying it" added Ernie, poisonously. "Absolutely bollocks."
"Harry is dead?" half asked, half stated Megan in a shocked tone, grabbing at the newspaper.
The minutes after seemed to pass quickly. In silence, they waited as Ernie read the various articles with another of the groups of students forming around them. A couple of older students got closer, too, and started imposing on them questions they couldn't answer – until Hannah started to cry. At this sight the boys got enraged, and told everyone to bugger off and go bother someone else. Most did, some of them walking towards the faculty's table.
Not long after, right when the noise couldn't go higher, a couple of loud coffs could be heard coming from the high table. Wand in hand, clearly casting Sonorus on herself, professor Sprout was now standing up and facing the rest of the Hall.
"Everyone, go back to your seat, NOW" she ordered. When some among both the older and the youngest students seemed to hesitate, she used her wand to "encourage" them with small pushes. Eventually, everyone was seated and there was a lot less chaos in the hall.
"I hoped we could wait until headmaster Dumbledore could address you all, or at least deputy McGonagall. But, if none of you can show some restraints in such dire moments, then I will address the rumors you all seem to be spreading."
"Are they true?" asked an older Ravenclaws student, only to wilt under Sprout's glare.
"Silence! Until I will be done speaking, I don't want to hear questions or comments. This is the only warning I will give" said Sprout, looking around the assembled students.
"To start with" she began, taking a deep breath before continuing "yes. Yes, it's all unfortunately true. Yesterday night a group of followers of the Dark Lord managed to bring him back. No, we don't know how – the ministry has been sparse with details."
Murmurs started once again but none yet was loud enough to bother Sprout, at least apparently. "The presence of the aurors at our school, this morning, was linked to that. They are investigating what happened here last night, and whoever might be involved. I am ashamed to admit that some of our students helped those dark wizards kidnap two of your school mates, Mister Potter and Miss Perks. Miss Perks, while scared, is unharmed and currently with her parents. We should all wish for her to recover from her ordeal."
"Harry Potter is dead" stated a flat voice coming from Gryffindor's table. "How?"
Sprout glared in that direction and seemed to be ready to scold whoever dared to speak, only to calm down suddenly. For a couple seconds she kept staring into the face of Ginevra Weasley, searching for who knows what, but the girl's face was completely frozen. Giving up, she sighed in frustration.
"The details are scarce, as I said, but one thing should be made clear. Let there be no misunderstanding, miss Weasley. His godfather, an auror, told me and I quote verbatim: Harry died like his father, wand in hand, fighting bravely against the Dark Lord. Understood?" said Sprout, her voice tight. Ginny nodded, slowly, and said no more.
"For most of you, none of this will change your coming year. You-know-who has been captured already, and our school will continue its planned schedule, Triwizard Tournament included. Our headmaster is severely indisposed, but I have full faith he will make a full recovery. Professor Snape is… with him, at the moment, but professor McGonagall assured me how that matter too will be handled. Headmaster Karkaroff is absent, true, but Durmstrang's faculty has been warned and one of their professors is already on the way" continued Sprout, raising her hands once some students seemed ready to start talking again. "I will repeat it, everything is under control. Just be quiet and let the ministry handle the situation. I am sure that rag we call The Prophet will be happy to give you all the details as soon as they are made public."
"It was the Slytherins, right?" shouted another voice from Gryffindor's table, several roars of agreement coming from around it. "It's always the snakes!". The whole school seemed to turn and watch at the green-robed students, and inside Slytherin itself several stares could be seen going towards their 4th year members, most of which just kept their eyes low.
"Twenty points from Gryffindors, and don't make me raise it to fifty!" shouted back professor Sprout, trying to identify who shouted, and failing. "Don't start to turn against each other. The Slytherins" continued Sprout, pushing down on the word "did nothing. Some students, some from Slytherin, might have been involved. I know better than to expect teenagers to be sensible and wait, but I order you all to keep your prejudices for yourself while the aurors work!"
This final declaration seemed to irritate everyone, but Sprout was too agitated to care. As students from Gryffindors glared at Slytherins and back, Ravenclaws seemed stunned and Hufflepuffs downcast, their foreign guests were just looking around awkwardly. In truth, it was a mess.
"Now, all of you, go back to your common rooms and stay there. For our foreign guests, I can't give you orders but it is true that Hogwarts isn't able to offer a positive environment today. It might be better to wait inside your own accommodations" she continued, looking at a perplexed Madam Maxime. "Give Hogwarts time to react to these terrible events. Dismissed. Prefects, make sure I am obeyed."
Slowly, unhappily, the student body rose up and walked out of the big hall, the prefects acting almost as armed guards on the way. Hufflepuffs, too, went back to their common rooms and waited there, students restarting to gossip as soon as they could. The 4th year Hufflepuffs gathered around their usual table in silence, as no one seemed to be in any mood to talk.
Not long after, professor Sprout walked inside. Some students approached her instantly, but she dismissed all of them with a couple words and some promises of more time later. Swiftly, she approached the table of the 4th years.
"Kids, I wanted to talk with you specifically" she started. "I am so sorry for your loss, and I wanted to make sure you are ok."
"Professor" started Hannah, her eyes still red. "Why?"
"I am sorry, miss Abbott" said professor Sprout, apologetically, sitting down next to her. "Sometimes there is not a good explanation for what happens."
"Is Sally really ok?" asked Susan, timidly.
"As much as she can be after what happened" answered Sprout, sighing. "She has not been straight out beaten, at least, but apparently whoever kidnapped her doesn't like muggleborns and wasn't afraid to say it. They were quite rough too, for grown men dealing with a terrorized little girl."
"Can we write her something?" asked Ernie.
"Sure you can. I am sure she would appreciate it, too" answered Sprout, smiling encouragingly. "Now, I am sure this is not needed, but try not to impose your curiosity on her. Just offer your support, please."
"Yes, professor Sprout" answered a couple of them, nodding.
"What about Harry, professor?" asked Hannah, once again.
"I have been told the ministry is planning a collective funeral for him and the aurors that died yesterday night" continued Sprout. "It is quite likely that our school will dedicate something to him, too, but that is up to our headmaster."
"What was the school's deal with Harry anyway, professor? I know it's not technically any of our business, but there was always so much… mistery around him" said Wayne.
"The school expelled him, then took him back. And all professors were almost ignoring him, lately. Maybe not you, but…" added Justin.
"Most of it I don't know either, I fear" said Sprout "and the rest I have no right to share. Just like everyone else, I want you to let the school and the ministry handle this tragedy. Grieve in peace and support each other, especially your friend Sally-Anne."
"Were really some Slytherin students involved in his death, professor?" asked Zack, hostile. "That is not something we can simply ignore. And I have nothing against Slytherin."
Professor Sprout looked at him, and then at some of the faces around their table – many clearly eavesdropping. She sighed.
"I have been told that some students from Slytherin might have been forced by their parents to help with this crime" said Sprout, eventually. "If that's all there is to it, I see them as victims as much as your two friends. I mean it, mister Smith" she added, quickly, when Zack seemed ready to contradict her.
"At your age, it is hard to even imagine the pressure you would feel if your parents, or even just some of us professors, tried to force you to do something bad" she continued. "Have some compassion for them, for I am sure they are already dealing with their conscience."
"If they have one" countered Zach, coldly. Sprout sighed again. "For what I have been told, for what I saw, most of them definitely have one mister Smith. Leave them alone. If any of them has not been forced, they will have to answer to the aurors too."
After this no one else spoke, and eventually – after sparing more words of comforts – she left. They could hear her, on the way out, order a prefect to make sure that no one would bother them with questions.
At the table no one spoke for a long while. Eventually, Zach shook his head and stood up. "What can we even say, right now?" he scoffed, leaving afterward for his dormitory. Wayne, nodding, followed him and slowly they all did the same, boys and girls.
"I see" commented Dumbledore, as McGonagall finished talking. "It could be better, but I am relieved to see the school is mostly under control."
Dumbledore was laying down on a simple bed, looking as old and frail as he never did before. In the hallway, through the open door, they could see mediwitches and nurses passing by and the normal noises of St. Mungo could be heard through the walls.
"Filius is back, too" said McGonagall, who was sitting close by his bed. "It will help greatly with Ravenclaws, but the problem remains Slytherin. Severus….?"
"I spoke at length with him, Minerva" said Dumbledore, before being interrupted by a coughing fit. Drinking from a glass of water that McGonagall had quickly offered him, he restarted talking. "He still has my trust. He has been forced into… into what happened, I believe him."
"If you are sure, Albus" countered McGonagall, doubts barely filtering through her voice. "The aurors were not convinced. Especially Black, but that is to be expected."
"Black is angry and out for revenge, and who could blame him? But that makes him a horrible judge of the accused" insisted Dumbledore. "In any case Severus will have his own share of the trials, tomorrow. I will make sure the truth comes out."
"Are you sure you have to participate, Albus? I mean…" said McGonagall, grimacing.
"I will need help even just to arrive there, true" commented Dumbledore with a bitter smile. "But as Chief Warlock I can't be absent. Black, ironically, is the very example of what can happens when things are not done properly."
"The trials are getting muddled already, though" countered McGonagall, sniffing. "I heard the Malfoys are once again pleading being controlled by Imperio and what's worse, Bones openly said she believes them. Their trial will be done separately and their son, Draco, is exempted from it altogether."
"No matter what, I don't mind someone so young being given a second chance if he rejected Voldemort's ways" said Dumbledore, closing his eyes and leaning backward into his pillow.
"If" answered McGonagall, curtly. As Dumbledore didn't seem willing to add more, she moved on. "Nevermind. Albus, what is your opinion on everything that happened? Did you even know it was happening?"
"I am not omniscient, Minerva" countered Dumbledore, shaking his head. "I knew Voldemort was obsessed by Harry, true. Without the boy's cooperation, keeping him completely safe was always going to be impossible."
"Terrible as it might be to speak ill of a recently dead boy, he was quite unnerving and difficult. Don't say no" insisted McGonagall, while Dumbledore just showed a weird expression. "But you kept covering for him. And why does you-know-who care so much about him? What happened, Albus? No more hints and riddles, I beg you."
"There is more i haven't told you, true" admitted Dumbledore. "Voldemort needed Harry, specifically, to come back to life. But the major, hidden reason…" he stopped, sighed, and shrugged. "I guess it's moot by now. There is a prophecy, Minerva, which turned Voldemort against the boy even before he was even born. Depending on how it was interpreted, Harry was his fated enemy and they were destined to kill each other."
"Did Potter knew all this?" asked McGonagall, only to shiver when Dumbledore nodded. "Oh, the poor boy. What a weight on his shoulders… he must have felt desperate."
"As if. Be reassured, he was way more rebellious than scared" added Dumbledore, almost whispering it, with a small scoff of displeasure. "Nevertheless" he quickly added, at McGonagall's disapproving gaze "his death is of course a tragedy. An incredible potential wasted, I'll admit that much."
"I can tell you are heartbroken" commented McGonagall, coldly. "I hope you are showing up to his funeral, at least. Back at school, I'll make sure to dedicate a minute of silence in his memory. Maybe something else, too."
"I will go, Minerva. Of course I will" promised Dumbledore, quickly. "For Hogwarts, manage it as you see fit until I return."
After some moments of awkward silence McGonagall wished him goodnight and, gathering her things and setting some items to be more easily reachable by the sick headmaster, she left. Alone in the room, Dumbledore sighed.
"Prophecy or not, this didn't have to be your destiny, young Potter" he murmured, unhappily.