Chapter 11
"Just like you killed Theodore"
"Sir, I can testify that she stabbed herself." An auror replied as she stood below the gaze of Dawlish, "She walked toward Mr. Potter and said something to him before stabbing herself repeatedly."
"What did she say, boy?" Dawlish asked, displeasure apparent on his face. Harry stood silently in front of him. His hands were bound and his head toward the ground.
"Nothing." Harry replied impassively.
"I've had enough of this! This won't look good on the administration." Dawlish said as he rubbed his clean-shaven face. "I want a personal detail on Mr. Potter, at all times, but we need to do something immediate to stay ahead of this."
Dawlish continued to pace for a minute before looking back at Harry. "Effective immediately, Mr. Potter will be suspended from Hogwarts until the investigation is cleared away."
"Sir, with all due respect, the investigation has nothing to do with Mr. Potter; his wand is clean. She didn't have any spells, fingerprints or magical resid-"
"Enough, Sarah! It doesn't matter, the administration needs to look good. It's only a short suspension, a week at worst, provided no new information comes about." Dawlish stopped in front of Harry, "Then Mr. Potter can go back to whatever Hogwarts mischief he pleases...with new friends of course. Escort Mr. Potter to his room to get his stuff; he is to have no contact with anyone."
"Yes, Headmaster." The auror replied. "However, I think you're making a mistake."
"Did I ask?" Dawlish retorted.
Harry stood up as Dawlish continued to look at him; he didn't even have enough energy to look at Dawlish. As he exited to into the hall, he was surrounded by a platoon of aurors.
Harry leaned over toward the auror named Sarah, "I don't need anything; just go straight out."
Sarah looked at him, almost with pity, "You sure?"
Harry nodded as Sarah gave directions to fellow aurors, who began walking with Harry toward the exit as fellow students stopped to stare; Peeves even flew through to mock him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter; this isn't fair to you." Sarah said as they continued to walk.
Harry didn't bother to reply.
Draco sat still against the chamber chair, as Blaise threw books on the ground, hurriedly. Draco could hear the chamber walls creak as he tapped his fingers and shuffled in his chair. The flashbacks of Lavender's death replaying in his mind like clockwork, watching as she killed herself, as the blood splattered..as the screams...the-
"I need to go." Draco said as he got up. "I don't know what you're doing, but I'll see you later."
Blaise simply nodded as he continue to rummage through books, perusing through them carefully before throwing them to a growing pile. Blaise hadn't said anything since the death, and the silence was killing him. Draco took a stroll through the chambers as he made his way toward a long hallway with only one door. Due to the immediate lockdown, he couldn't be walking the halls, but thankfully Harry had built exits. With the flick of his wand, the door lit up, and Draco walked through it, finding himself in the Slytherin boys' bathroom stall. As he exited the stall, several boys were relaxing by the exit, noticing him as he exited.
"Err, ugh, good Job, Draco," One said.
Draco looked at the boy with a half smile, "For what?"
He looked around before whispering, "For finally getting rid of that fucking blood-traitor; maybe he'll finally be put away!"
Draco nodded, before leaving. As he came into the common room, he was relieved to see Pansy Parkinson sitting on the couch with other girls including Daphne Greengrass, who only glanced at him.
"Pansy." He said stoically at the dorm's entrance; Pansy stood up immediately and came over to him.
"Are you alright?" She asked, rubbing her hand smoothly across his cheek, "You're freezing."
"Yes." Draco said, motioning to the boy's dorm entrance, "but I need you." Pansy nodded, looking back at her friends before following Draco through the dorm entrance, and into his official room. Crabbe and Goyle were sleeping in their bed, waking up as Draco slammed the door open.
"Beat it." Draco said aggressively, "Actually keep watch, no one is to enter."
"Yessir," They said as they slowly got up and left. Once the room had left, Draco immediately began kissing Pansy.
"Are you sure-"
"Stop talking." Draco said as his hands wandered. Even as things began to get passionate, Draco could still hear the sound of the knife plunging into Lavender's flesh. The way life left her eyes. Her eyes. The-
"Ouch!" Pansy interrupted.
"Sorry." Draco mumbled.
"It's okay," Pansy said, "It feels good; look at me, not the wall." Draco looked at Pansy, his focus shifting back into the present. After two minutes, Draco rolled over on the bed, panting as Pansy curled beside him, kissing him as he lay there.
"Draco, are you really okay? I know it was brutal," Pansy said,"But hopefully, this finally gets that blood traitor a trial, and then the Dark Lord can truly finish his work."
He usually hated Pansy when she began to go on the tirades, and today was no different. "Thank God." Pansy jumped on top of Draco, "I want to personally meet whoever is causing the disloyal blood traitors to kill themselves; it's so bloody genius! "
Draco pushed Pansy off of him, as he pushed himself up against the headboard. "Can you just lay with me without talking about the fucking politics?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, Draco?" Pansy asked.
"I love you, Pansy," Draco said laying back down to his side, and covering himself with blankets, "Not the war."
Pansy turned to look at him eye, pure joy written on her face. Draco smiled and kissed her.
"That's the first time you've said that!" Pansy said, eyes wide."I love you too, Draco Malfoy; everything about you." Pansy turned and allowed herself to be cuddled against him, her skin hot against his. Every time he would close his eyes, he could see the way blood splattered across his face. As Pansy's sporadic breath became monotone, tears began to flow from Draco's face.
The wind howled as Harry stood in front of 12 Grimmauld Place. As he walked into a long hallway, Dumbledore stood at the end of the hallway.
"Pseudo-Normality," Harry said sarcastically, as he hugged Dumbledore tightly.
"Pseudo, indeed," Dumbledore replied.
Harry followed Dumbledore into the house. It had come a long way since the first time he had walked into it. Most of the house had been completely redesigned and expanded.
"Is master hungry?"
Harry turned to see Kreacher, who had appeared behind him. Kreacher had been the worst part of the house, at first. Until he found out Harry had murdered Sirius, and suddenly, Kreacher appreciated him a lot more.
"No," Harry said absentmindedly as he looked around at new additional changes, "Where is everyone?"
Dumbledore said as he strolled toward the counter, "There are death eaters attacking muggleborn neighborhoods."
Harry looked at Dumbledore, quizzically, "Why aren't you helping?"
"It is becoming increasingly more evident that the more I exert myself, the faster my conditions speeds up."
Harry looked down at Dumbledore's hand, "Still nothing?"
"It's a truly nasty curse, my boy."
"How long...until-"
"-My death? Assuming we can't pursue any more measures to delay its effect. I will lose the ability to move my wrist in about six to seven months before deteriorating into the more dreadful stages of the curse," Dumbledore smiled as he pulled out a chocolate frog, "An unequivocally grandiose way to go out, if I do say so myself."
Harry smiled weakly. He still couldn't fathom the death of Albus Dumbledore.
Dumbledore picked up the Evening Prophet showing Harry the front page.
Pureblood Slayer Suspended; Investigation ensues
"Nevertheless, It's been a long day, I won't burden you further with the macabre thoughts of an old man. Tomorrow, we will chat after our full Order of the Phoenix meeting in the morning, despite the unfortunate circumstances, it's well-timed that you're here."
Harry smiled weakly, "Goodnight, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore smiled back, "Goodnight, Harry."
Harry left toward his room. He took out his wand, unlocked and opened his room. It was a small room, but it suited him fine. Harry sat down on the creaky bed.
"Fuck." He whispered as he realized he had forgotten to bring any of Blaise's potions with him. Harry sighed deeply as he slowly took off his bloodied robes, tossing them on the floor and falling against his pillow. He desperately just wanted to close his eyes and lock these memories away.
It was going to be a long night.
"I want to show you something... tomorrow...I think..I think it might make you feel a little better." Pansy said as they arrived at the stairs of the girls dorm, "meet me in the morning at ten."
"Sure," Draco replied nonchalantly as he kissed Pansy on the forehead, motioning her up the stairs.
The common room was quiet as he watched Pansy go upstairs. As she vanished, he wandered over to the couch, plopping down as he picked up a forgotten quill on the table in front of him. Only the sound of the popping of the dying fire and occasional creaks from the walls separating him from total silence.
"Malfoy," A voice whispered. Draco looked up casually, expecting Pansy to walk back down. However, he couldn't contain his confusion and surprise as Astoria Greengrass silently descended down the stairs. Appearing before him, she looked around him cautiously. She quickly pulled out her wand. Draco dropped his quill to quickly make a motion for his wand.
Astoria rolled her eyes, "Calm down, I just want to make sure there are no unwanted listeners and you are so slow."
"What the hell do you want?" Draco asked as Astoria began to verbally cast concealment charms before turning back to Draco.
Astoria looked around, "I need you to tell Harry something for me."
Draco tilted his head in confusion.
"Daphne knows who is putting all the purebloods under the Imperius."
Draco straightened up in his seat, the silence filled with the popping of the fire.
"Why are you telling me this?" Draco asked.
Astoria shrugged, "Self-preservation; it's purebloods that are being killed, after all."
"None of which have been loyal to the Dark Lord, even those who have been neutral."
"it doesn't matter; this needs to end." Astoria said.
Draco stood up, towering over Astoria, "And if this gets back to the Dark Lord that you ruined your families neutrality?"
"Then so be it...whoever you work for, you tell them I told you." Astoria said with finality as she turned and left.
As soon as the silence began again, Draco sighed as he fully laid out on the couch.
It couldn't get much worse.
Needless to say, Harry found himself the first one in the meeting room downstairs as the light began to shine through the window. The room was chilly as he entered and in the center of the room was the long wood table, which was engraved in the center with a phoenix. Harry dragged his hand across the wood table as he slowly walked, until he reached the head seat; he was going to have to sit there one day.
"Visions of grandeur, Potter?" Snape drawled.
Harry stomach began to churn as he looked up to see Severus Snape strolling into the room.
Harry eyed Severus boldly.
"The sooner I'm head, the sooner you're gone," Harry replied calmly as Snape approached.
"Is that so?" Snape scowled, before looking intently at Harry, "Your childish arrogance grows, boy, or is it...ah, a draught addiction."
"Get out of my head," Harry snapped. Snape got closer to Harry, narrowing his eyes as he stood in front of Harry, "As if I would waste my energy; the symptoms are physical."
Before Harry could reply, the engraved phoenix began to glow on the table. Eyeing Snape, Harry slowly moved past him toward his seat toward the lower end of the table. As Harry took his seat, Albus entered followed by several other members.
"Good morning Harry, Severus," Albus said as he began his track toward the head table.
As more people entered, Harry could see that everyone was in a somber mood, with little to no chatter. Charlie Weasley muttered a quick greeting as he took a seat next to Harry. Aberforth was the last to enter, he seemed very stoic as he took a seat next to the right of Albus.
"Let's begin," Albus said as he tapped his wand on the table, turning off the red glow of the engraved phoenix. Albus motioned toward Aberforth who took a quick swig of his flask, spilling liquid down his beard and onto his robe.
"We were tasked with a rescue mission last night if you didn't know. When we arrived, we arrived to muggleborn kids standing over their parents." Aberforth said flatly, fixated on one point on the table, "then they...they...killed themselves."
The room was silent for a while, everyone not sure what to say before Charlie Weasley spoke up.
"Albus, can we really fight like this...if they can know our every move...if they're willing to do unspeakable things at the drop of a wand," Charlie said, the distress apparent in his voice, "It seems like….it seems like we're losing more than we're winning."
"You're right, Charlie," Albus sighed as he leaned on the table, "Which is I will not be leading the Order for much longer."
Pretty much everyone except Harry, Aberforth, and Snape gasped.
"While the original intent of the order was to oppose Voldemort, I'm afraid it was never built to succeed the ministry's resources and power. With that said, the order needs to be much bolder and much stronger than its first iteration, and I'm not the one to lead it," Albus looked up at Harry, "Before the spring returns, Harry will take over as head of the Order."
Everyone turned to look at Harry. Harry stared toward the table, uncomfortable with the pressured gaze sent his way. He could feel the nervousness hit his stomach; he would be leading this group soon.
"He, along with Aberforth and Severus, will fight harder than I can fight and have fought," Albus replied.
"I mean no disrespect, Albus, but they are not you, " Shacklebolt said as he looked back between Harry and Albus. "And can we expect a mere child to be tougher than you? What are you thinking?"
"You're right, they're not. They are in much better shape than I, and they will be much better leaders for this organization for this period of the order. Harry has seen much more than I ever thought he would, but he's proven to me several times over that he is capable. That he can do the right thing. That he knows what is at stake."
"But Albus where you will be?" Shacklebolt asked
"Ideally, in front of a fireplace, with a warm glass of firewhiskey and a particularly pleasant book," Dumbledore chuckled to a joke that fell on deaf ears, "An acquired network over my lifetime could produce some useful resources that are worthy avenues to pursue."
"Albus, I'm just not sure this is the smartest position we could put ourselves. With you gone, we'll certainly be under the stress of more attacks, " Charlie said, "Or at least put this up for a vote, and let everyone decide who should be the leader. "
People were nodding their heads in agreement.
"Pardon my hubris, but I'm the only thing keeping Voldemort at bay. My leaving will only make him more cautious, and I ask that you believe I know what is for the greater good, that your trust in me continues through this abrupt transition period," Albus replied.
"Albus, even so, what does tougher even mean? Are we going resort the same tactics of our enemies? Part of being on the Order for me is about fighting with a clean conscience," Charlie replied.
"I say we put this to a vote like Charlie said! I think the Order can best decide who we want to lead us; we're throwing our lives behind someone." Shacklebolt said, "And I thought we agreed before that Harry wasn't exactly ready for the Order quite yet."
Aberforth yelled out, startling several, "You were full of goat shit last time and you're full of goat shit this time. Harry has proven himself time and time, and this group's constant denial of that is maddening. He's young, but he'll be a capable leader; far better than any of you lot."
Aberforth slammed his flask against the table and stood up, looking furious at everyone at the table.
"Families are being tortured. Children just fucking killed themselves, and let's not even start with muggles who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no such thing as clean war, and if you expect that then you shouldn't be here. This is war and we have to start fighting like one." Aberforth aggressively fell back into his chair with a thud that should have collapsed it.
"Would you like to share Harry?" Albus asked.
Harry looked toward the gazes of curious, angry, and neutral faces and then back to the reassuring face of Albus.
"While I'm not a voting member of the order, I believe that a matter as pressing and abrupt as this one should be voted on."
"Then so be it," Albus said cautiously, "We will hold an official vote before years end. Charlie and Shacklebolt, I assume both of you are running?"
"No," Charlie replied simultaneously as Shacklebolt replied, "yes."
"Anyone else?" Albus said, " If everyone is content, we shall move on to hear written updates from Hagrid and Remus."
After what felt like hours, Albus tapped his wand on the table causing a phoenix to rise brightly from the center of the table, signaling the end of the meeting. Everyone got up and headed toward the kitchen where breakfast had been prepared for them by Molly. Harry was not hungry in the slightest, so he turned back to leave before being stopped.
"Oi!" Shacklebolt said, calling after him. "I just want to say, no hard feelings," Shacklebolt said extending his hand.
"Of course," Harry replied as he moved past Shacklebolt, ignoring the invitation and turning to go back to his room. Everything was beginning to feel like ages as he trekked upstairs to his bedroom and laid down. Maybe he could make his own potion? After not being able to sleep, Harry turned and went toward his desk, flipping through several books before giving up after skimming his fourth book. As he was about to get up, the door opened slightly, it was Albus.
Harry turned toward to face him as Albus came in and sat on his bed.
"How long have you been having sleeping troubles," Dumbledore asked softly.
"For a while now," Harry replied, "But it's not for you to worry about."
"As the only son I've ever had, I will always worry," Dumbledore chuckled, "You never cease to impress me with your perseverance, and your internal resolve."
Harry smiled slightly, "Will it be enough?"
"Fear and power aren't sustainable strengths, but predictable weaknesses," Dumbledore smiled slightly, "If you understand the way fear and power make people react, you can almost predict the future."
"Like at the meeting, or at least I'm hoping I could read your plans?"
"You did quite well, Harry," Dumbledore gave an elderly smile as he stood up and went toward the door, "Quite well indeed! I will be leaving after an afternoon meeting with Aberforth and Shacklebolt this afternoon, so I wanted to get a chance to catch up with you before I depart. How are the attacks, any direction? "
"We recently received a list of names, but nothing more. It has to be a Slytherin because only non-loyal families are being targeted, but that's all we know." Harry replied.
"Hogwarts can detect when unforgivables are being casted, but there are blind spots such as the chamber that can't be detected. Your caster is using this to their advantages. I know that they'll be find, but the real question is what will you do when you find them?"
"Whatever it takes," Harry icily said. Harry turned back toward his desk, worried that he would see judgment in Dumbledore's eyes.
Dumbledore didn't say anything, but rather came forward, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I trust that you will do the right thing." Dumbledore said as he gently kissed Harry on the head before turning to leave the room, "and I trust you'll find the right people to help you."
The door creaked open and shut as Harry just sat thinking. A wave of tiredness hit him and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep on his desk.
_
Thanks for reading! And thank you to my beta, Haphne24.