Chapter 27: After the Thrill is Gone
Harry woke up in the Hospital Wing and looked at the blurry shapes in front of him
"I am going to kill him," Harry groaned as his arm lay limp by his side. Someone, Harry guessed it was Hermione, put his glasses on.
"This is a hospital, not a morgue, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said as she bustled up. "Though I do hope whatever you do dissuades him from ever trying to heal another student.
"I can mend bones in a second," She started poring out a purple liquid. "Regrowing them is another thing altogether."
"Regrowing them is another thing altogether," Harry and Hermione echoed together.
"Surely you two can be serious," Pomfrey said.
"I am serious and don't call me Shirley," Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Enough," McGonagall said. Pomfrey was exasperated and the rest of Harry's teammates looked confused. "Don't torment your Healer."
"Excellent game, Harry!" Wood stepped up to congratulate Harry. "You and your Bludger really tore the Slytherin line apart. They had no idea how to deal with you."
"To be fair-,"
"To be fairrr," Hermione and Neviile sing-songed with him.
"-how many times do you practice 'crazed Seeker followed by a Rogue Bludger plays? I'm just glad we won."
"We didn't just win," Hermione smiled. "Draco was reamed by his team. You should have seen his housemates; they totally ignored him. I'd feel bad if it was anyone else."
"Do we know what happened with the Bludger?" Harry asked.
"Since Miss Granger disintegrated it," McGongall spoke from the corner and Hermione blushed in embarrassment. "We cannot be sure. It was clearly tampered with to track you and you alone. Excellent flying, by the way, to use that Bludger as a weapon against your opponents."
"Alright," Pomfrey cut in. "Visiting hours are officially over. Mr. Potter has a long, panful night ahead of him. Out!"
"Thanks again, Harry," Wood said. "You fired us up today when I couldn't. You got us ready to play."
"There's a celebration back in the tower whenever you're released."
"I said out!" Pomfrey waived them away.
Hermione gave the matron her best puppy dog eyes.
"You can stay," Pomfrey relented. "For ten minutes."
The matron came up and helped Harry drink his Skele-Grow and dreamless sleep, letting him settle down into his bed.
"I hope you're not mad," Harry said quietly.
"Why would I be mad?" Hermione was genuinely perplexed.
"I promised to never pull some of those maneuvers…"
"Looked like you had no choice. Given the circumstances, I think I can forgive you… this time," Hermione grabbed his left hand. "I was honestly terrified. You were so high. If something went wrong…"
"It's okay," Harry consoled her. "I could always hear it behind me and knew I was faster. I just didn't think it would keep going once the game ended. I do have to admit: it was satisfying seeing it hit Draco."
"I wonder how bad it is for him," Hermione, not entirely concerned with the blonde jerk.
As they were talking in the Hospital Wing, Draco was being derided within his own common room. The air was thick and heavy as Slytherin wasn't just beaten, they were embarrassed.
"What use is having the best broom if you don't use it, Malfoy?" Flint was hammering his point home. "Potter was a menace and you did nothing. He flew through our formations, destroying our plays and what did you do? You stood still and watched him. You might as well have been in the stands with the rest of your house. Potter dealt with Rogue Bludger tailing him and STILL outclassed you."
Slytherin was all about prestige, power and political scheming, something Draco had yet to master. He got through thanks to his father's reputation. However, his constant antagonization of Harry followed up with Harry outmaneuvering him only hurt him. Crabbe and Goyle split off, leaving Draco without the appearance of muscle to back him up. Malfoy seemed to think he was the Slytherin Prince and Flint needed to put him in his place. Not that Flint would say this aloud but he was quietly happy they lost. Malfoy's powerplay to buy his way on the team threatened his standing within the house. He didn't love the idea that with Lucius Malfoy buying Draco's spot on the team, he was also increasing the idiot's power within the house. As much as he hated the loss, it allowed him to regain influence in the Slytherin hierarchy.
"I don't care if your father bought the brooms," Flint stared down at the boy who was glaring up at him. "If you continue to perform like that, I will find someone to replace you."
While Flint was tearing into Draco, another blonde head of hair was penning a letter to her father.
Dear Father,
I know you are in negotiations with Lucius Malfoy for my betrothal to his son. I must express my concerns with this alliance as the younger Malfoy has none of his father's guile and cunning. I fear any alliance would reflect poorly on our family. Do not reject him outright. Instead, string him along until an opportunity comes to break off ties.
On another front, I can report the alliance with Potter is proving fruitful. He has forged relationships with the Houses Longbottom, Bones, Abbott and Diggory. Meanwhile, he has rebuffed the advances from House Malfoy. Any alliance with House Malfoy would put us at odds with Potter. I am not sure if he knows of the Great Alliance but it is clear that the Alliance is making its return in the near future. If we were able to form relationships with the parts of this alliance, it would benefit us far more than any alliance we could make with Malfoy. Draco has already lost the support of House Goyle and House Crabbe, thanks to Potter.
Do what you must and as a proud daughter of House Greengrass, I will work to advance its influence every day. I will keep you informed to further developments.
Your Daughter,
Daphne
Finishing the letter, Daphne sealed it and prepared to send it off the next morning. While she was finishing the letter, Hermione was escorted out of the Hospital Wing as Harry's Dreamless Sleep potion kicked in.
She made her way up to the tower and entered the common room to a subdued party. Apparently with their star seeker in the hospital.
"Hey Hermione," Neville called her over. "How's Harry?"
"He's regrowing the bones in his right arm," she spat. "Thanks to that incompetent jerk."
"He's going to recover, right?" Ron asked.
"What? So he can catch a stupid ball for the stupid team again?" Hermione responded venomously.
"That's not what I meant," Ron put his hands up in surrender. "I know Harry is important to you; he's important to everyone here."
"What Lockhart did was horrible," Lavender spoke up, laying a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "This was supposed to be a grand celebration for a huge victory but without Harry… we just don't much feel like celebrating."
"It's just…" Hermione growled in frustration before breaking down in tears. "I thought he was going to be killed, all because of a stupid game!"
Lavender wrapped her arm around Hermione's shoulder and let her cry out all the pent-up emotion from the day.
"I get it," Neville said. "Really I do. Just remember that it might be a stupid game to you but it is something that Harry enjoys."
"And he's truly great at it," Parvati added. "He won't do anything in Quidditch that would put his life truly at risk."
"I j-j-just wish he didn't have to do something so dangerous," Hermione tried to stop but with the dam broke, it all came tumbling out. "Sometimes I wish he didn't have to player."
"We don't," Katie Bell was standing in front of her, Angelina and Alicia flanking her. "We wouldn't have won today without him."
"Harry was incredible today," Angelina said. "Before the match, nobody knew what to do. We were nervous and even Wood couldn't figure out how to get us fired up. "Next thing we know Harry is firing us up, getting us ready. The only reason he was calm is because of what you said to him, Hermione. Never forget he carries a piece of you with him wherever he goes, especially on the pitch. I don't even have the words for what he said. It was…
"A kick in the ass," Fred had joined them. "He kicked us into gear and got us focused on what we needed to do while reassuring us about what we actually CAN do as a team."
"Quidditch can be dangerous, yes," Alicia knelt in front of Hermione. "But he isn't out there alone. We always watch over one another. If it weren't for Lockhart, everything would be fine."
"Ugh!" Hermione wiped her hands down her face in frustration. "Lockhart! That… that…"
"Don't worry about Lockhart," George said with a smile. "We've got something special planned for him. Don't you worry."
Slowly the party, such that it was, wound down and Hermione eventually headed up to bed. As her head hit the pillow, her thoughts remained with the green-eyed wizard who currently lay in the Hospital Wing.
At the same time, said wizard was becoming aware of a weight on his bed, specifically his knees. Cracking his eyes open, Harry immediately took note of a pair of tennis ball-sized eyes gazing at him.
"Dobby," Harry groaned. "I suppose I have you to thank for this."
Harry tried futilely to lift his arm, causing pain to shoot up his arm.
"Yes," Dobby pulled on his ears as he collapsed into a sitting position on the bed. "Dobby told Harry Potter not to come. Dobby told him that dark things were planned. Yet Harry Potter has returned. And now the Chamber is opened."
"What do you know about it?" Harry leaned forward, eager for information.
"Elvses have told been told of it for generations," Dobby said. "Dark days those were. Ended with someone dying. Harry Potter can't be here! Harry Potter is too important."
Dobby was running his hands over his ears even faster
"Do you know who it is that's doing this?" Harry asked him.
"No no no!" Dobby shook his head. "But yous cannots be here for it. You's too important!"
"Dobby…" Harry tried to calm the hysterical creature down. "My best friend is a First Gen Witch. My friends are here. They're all in as much danger as I am. I can't leave them; I won't."
Dobby broke down in tears, muttering incoherently about "nobility" and "greatness" with "too important" thrown in. Using his pillowcase Dobby wiped his eyes.
"Why do you wear that thing?" Harry asked.
"Tis the mark of my enslavement, it is," Dobby said. "We elves can only use what master gives us the first time. From that time on, if master presents us clothes, it will frees us."
"So he doesn't have you do laundry?"
"He cans tell us to do it but he can not gives us clothes directly. If he does, wes being freed."
"What happens when you are freed?"
"Wes be looking for new work but a disgraced elf is finding it hard to finds work."
"And if you don't find work?"
"Wes die. Sometimes it takes months, other times it takes years but eventually, wes die."
"Can I help you in any way?" Harry asked, his anger giving way to concern.
"No, nosbody can helps Dobby," Dobby said, sadly. "Master won't free me so's my only escape is death."
"If you think of anything I can do to help," Harry reached out to lay his hand on Dobby's shoulder. "Let me know. Just stop trying to save me by doing things that put me in danger, okay?"
"Harry Potter is as great as they say," Dobby was opening weeping. "If he is sure he will not leave then Dobby will stop trying."
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said. "If you can help us in any way, I would appreciate it."
"Just let me…" Harry stopped as the door to the ward slammed open. Dobby disappeared and Harry lay back to feign sleep. Through his squinted eyes, Harry saw Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape wheeling in a student. A student with blonde hair, holding a camera.
No! Harry screamed in his mind but his gasp announced that he was indeed awake.
"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore smiled sadly at him. "Do not worry. Young Mr. Creevey is not dead, merely petrified."
With an audible groan, Harry wrenched himself out of bed to stand next to the bed where they placed the young boy. He still had the camera to his eyes.
"He must have been trying to sneak down to visit you; we found him right outside the ward."
"Did he get a picture of his attacker?" McGonagall asked.
With immense effort, Snape wrenched the camera from Colins stony grasp. Opening the back, an acrid smoke filled the room as the black sludge that was the film fell down onto the floor.
"There's no doubt: the Chamber of Secrets has been reopened," Dumbledore said, sadly.
"What do you know of it?" Harry asked.
"What do you know it, Potter?" Snape asked. Harry looked over and again felt the pressure on his forehead. Still tired from regrowing his bones, Harry screamed in pain and pushed his magic, making Snape stumble backward.
"I warned you!" McGonagall scolded. "You are not to use Legilimency on my ward! Harry doesn't know anything about the Chamber."
"To answer your question," Dumbledore forestalled the argument. "The Chamber was opened 50 years ago. They did arrest someone but I have always doubted the real culprit was caught. The real question… is how they are doing it again."
"Are there any children with a relation to anyone who was at school at that time?" Harry asked.
"There are a few but none that I would suspect. The ones who would do this are far too young and, frankly, not clever enough to sneak around without raising suspicion."
"All the same," McGonagall spoke up. "We should tighten security. No students walking around alone, Make sure every student is accounted for each night before curfew."
"Wise precautions," Dumbledore agreed. "I will speak with the Head Boy and Head Girl about implementation. Now it is time for you to head back to bed, Harry."
"And Colin?" Harry asked, his eyes lingering on the boy.
"He will be fine. Thanks to the Mandrakes you and your classmates are working with, we will be able to brew a Restorative Draught that will restore young Mr. Creevey to health."
"How long will that take?"
"Once the Mandrakes mature, which should be sometime around March, we will be able to brew the potion. A day after that, they will be back up and about."
"March!? Is there any way we could purchase Mandrakes that are already mature?"
"Hmm," Dumbledore ran his hands through his beard. "It might be possible, though they are usually excessively expensive."
"I'll help in any way I can, sir," Harry said. "Colin shouldn't lose a year of his education because we didn't pay a little for mature Mandrakes."
"You make a good argument," Dumbledore smiled at him. "I will look in on the Mandrakes and let you know. Now I really must send you back to bed. I don't know how you're up; regrowing bones is immeasurably painful."
Dumbledore flicked his wand and Harry felt his feet leave the ground. The covers of the bed pulled themselves back. Harry was placed in the bed, the covers coming back up to tuck him in.
"Sweet dreams, Harry," Dumbledore smile genially. The three professors turned and exited the ward.
"He makes a great point, Albus," McGonagall said only for Snape to scoff.
"He must think we can waive our wands and make things happen. So naïve and arrogant, just like-"
"Oh don't start!" McGonagall shot back. "That boy is interested in getting his housemate-one who occasionally annoys him, by the way-back on his feet. You and I both knew his parents. Even you must admit that is something Lily Evans would have done."
"She is right, Severus," Albus added. "Finding unique solutions to problems for the betterment of all was something Lily was known for. And the next time I find you have used Legilimency on a minor without consent, you will be out of this castle, Severus. I have ignored and explained away concerns regarding your conduct for far too long. We both heard Minerva tear into us about it. I have learned my lesson; you have not"
Dumbledore started to move away before he turned his head back to offer a final comment.
"Remember what will happen should you no longer has my protection or the protection of this castle."
Snape looked torn between horror and abject rage at this conversation as Dumbledore and McGonagall walked away.
(A/N: The bit that Harry and Hermione do is from Airplane!
*To be faiiiirrrr is a Letterkenny reference
Next: Lockhart is on the receiving end of Fred and George's wrath.)