Chapter 18-Face the Music
As overwhelmingly depressing and uneventful as the first three days after the tragic events of Monday, September 28th had been, the first day of October was a raucous holiday by comparison. All four--Ginny, Luna, Harry, and Draco-had regained consciousness. Madam Pomfrey had reduced their sleeping draught to nearly nothing to allow them to awake naturally. While there were thrills aplenty for everyone as they heard the news, the hard part of explaining what had happened to them and their friends was just now beginning.
To avoid repeating the tale many times, Professor Dumbledore waited until the following day to break the news to them. Draco had actually awoken in a less bitter mood than they expected. Ginny, however, was determined to tell her story to anyone who would listen. No matter how far-fetched it sounded. And, Luna was quiet as usual. Harry had no sooner opened his eyes than his sweet Hermione had showered him with affection. She smiled for the first time in three days. Harry noticed something not quite the same about Hermione though and it puzzled him.
By Friday, they were ready to share and hear the tale. Harry began with the confrontation near the door to the front door of Hogwarts with help from Hermione. She was able to vocalize some of the more dramatic points and was the first to mention the "killing curse". Harry added the details about helping Malfoy. The looks on Ginny's and Luna's faces were unmoved. They had not given their story yet.
Luna could not speak very loudly because her injuries had left her with a diminished breathing capacity due to the paralysis, but she began. She told of the gallantry Ron had shown as they fended off the attackers. She knew she could only tell what she heard lying face down on the corridor floor, but it made Hermione tear up in fear for Ron. Ginny added the part about Dean's screams just before the green flash consumed him. The story of how Professor Snape had saved Ginny brought looks of awe and approval from everyone. But questions still remained.
"Professor, what happened to the man Snape caught in the corridor outside his office? And, what role did Dean Thomas play? Harry asked.
"Harry, we know very little about what happened to the other intruder. The man who got away into the tunnel may have come back for him. We don't know." Albus Dumbledore was only telling half of the truth. "We found some letters in Dean's trunk that seem to indicate that he was helping someone conduct these terrible acts, as Ginny proposed. But there is also evidence that it was due to some other factors that we are not sure of yet. There may have been blackmail or a hostage involved as well. No one has been able to contact his family. They have disappeared. As muggles, it is hardly likely that they were in league with Voldemort."
Draco had remained silent during all of the story telling. His swollen jaw now just looked like an awful greenish-yellow as the bruise started to fade. "I remember being dropped on the floor and then knocked senseless by that rat-bastard. Potter, I appreciate you not leaving me. You too, Granger." He wasn't ready to tell the story of his torture at the house. He would save that for a more dramatic time.
"Then there is the issue of the 'killing curse'. Tell me your version Harry." Dumbledore requested.
Harry described the events in almost the same detail as Hermione. Everyone was sure that the story was true, because it was so similar. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Lupin were not so sure for the same reasons.
"Well, yes, Harry that seems to be the story now, doesn't it?" said Dumbledore in a mock accusatory tone. "You and I will have to go over the details before the inquiry at the Ministry of Magic is convened."
The reality had not seemed to penetrate yet. Ron Weasley was presumably in the clutches of Lord Voldemort and Hermione was a shell of her former self. They all had heard so much it would be a day or two before it registered.
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On Saturday, the search for Ron was 4 days old and no leads had turned up except the Thomas' empty house. It appeared that they had left in a hurry. The TV was on, but the power had been shut off for non-payment. The same could be said for the many appliances in the house. The house was cold without heat. An investigation team did find boot marks similar to the ones at Hogwarts in both cases. It only told them what they already suspected. Some of Voldemort's Death Eaters had paid a visit. Magical and muggle forensic evidence was still being collected.
The Isle of Man had proved to be a dead end. And, the search across Scotland had yet to bear fruit. The teams were talking to people in the street and watching out for tell-tale signs of magic in every community. So, the far south and the far north were quickly being ruled out.
Saturday brought Professor Dumbledore down to see Harry and Hermione. Hermione was sitting on the edge of Harry's wheelchair while Harry took a break from therapy designed to help him walk. "Hello, Harry. Hermione. How are you two getting on? Are you feeling any better Hermione?" He asked.
"Somewhat. I still have panic attacks every time I hear that Harry has to go somewhere. Something tells me I may never see him again."
"Hermione, I would never let that happen. You know that, don't you?" he asked.
"I want to believe that. Consciously I know it but all of a sudden I can't breath and I want scream. I don't. But I want to."
"Now, now sweet Hermione. Don't worry about that. You leave that to me."
"Harry, I would like to talk to you in private if I might." Dumbledore was not asking, merely being polite in telling Harry to come see him.
Hermione pushed Harry to Dumbledore's office and had a look of foreboding on her face as he disappeared from her sight. She became noticeably shaky and nervous.
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"Well, Harry, you acquitted yourself quite well again in a dangerous situation. You quite probably saved Hermione and Draco with your quick thinking and timely use of the dark arts." Harry realized the words were complimentary, but the tone suggested a more difficult and shadowy intent.
Harry played along with Dumbledore. "I am sure you could have said that in the infirmary in front of the others. Why here? Why now?"
"Harry, who used the Avada Kedavra curse?" He asked pointblank.
"Why, I did. Why do you question our story?" Asked Harry.
"You just answered why Harry….It is the same story. No differences. The exact wording, the exact time sequence, and the exact same perspective of the man falling." Dumbledore was pressing Harry now.
"Professor, I don't know what you are driving at? Forgive me if I don't answer intelligently?" Harry knew he was playing a dangerous game with the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Harry, you are very special to all of us. And I know there are those who are very special to you too. You are loyal to a fault, but you are mistaken if you think you can protect your friends in the manner you are attempting now. They may avoid one issue and be bound forever in a lie that can destroy them."
Harry steeled himself against the penetrating gaze of Professor Dumbledore. He could feel the Professor trying to sort his emotions and thoughts. He was resisting.
"Very good, Harry. You have been listening to my ranting on Occlumency. It's a shame you took advantage of Miss Granger when she could not."
"What would I gain by influencing Hermione, Professor Dumbledore?" asked Harry.
"Precisely, Harry. Nothing. You will destroy the only good thing in your life." He admonished.
Harry was trying not to lash out at Professor Dumbledore. The same loathing he had felt a year ago was returning. He didn't like being pushed into a corner.
"Alright, Harry. I'll give it to you as straight as I can. I am going to take the tone that you do not understand the implications of what I am saying. Let's say for the sake of argument that all you said about the events that night are true except one detail. Who used the 'killing curse'? Let's say Hermione did it out of desperation. You could see the pain in her face from having committed murder and what might happen if she were accused of using one of the Unforgiveable Curses. Are you with me so far?"
"Theoretically speaking, yes, Sir." Said Harry emotionlessly.
"So you quickly devised a plan to substitute a new memory in which it was you that used the curse. You figured that if anyone would be held liable you would. You have escaped these things before. You got confirmation somehow that it worked so you let it stand. Are you with me?"
"Professor Dumbledore, this is a great theory but not true." Harry would deny she had done this until the day he died.
"Harry, you are not dealing with a blind old man or your admiring fans. I believe this to be the true story. What evidence do I have? Hermione became near suicidal when you went down. Then she became paranoid. Then she became manic and psychotic. Something happened inside her head. She survived last year's catastrophe in the Ministry of Mysteries better than this. Don't you try to fool me, Harry Potter."
Harry listened closely but did not offer a defense this time.
"Harry, don't you see? She has the memory of you killing that man and the guilt that she did it? And the one person she loves most in the world could be put in prison for life for something he didn't do. She doesn't know what to believe, her mind is playing tricks on her."
Harry fidgeted in the wheelchair and refused to meet Dumbledore's gaze.
"Harry, this may save her from being convicted by the Wizengamot and leave her insane in the process! Wouldn't that be grand! Harry Potter goes to prison for a crime he didn't commit to protect the one he loves while he lets her slowly go insane-she'll be suicidal if you go to prison Harry. I won't let that happen."
Harry had tears in his eyes and cupped his face in his hands. He had not seen this outcome in his plan. All he wanted to do was save Hermione. He cried aloud and cursed the day he was born.
Albus Dumbledore hated what he had just done. He had turned his two favorite students into murderers or perjurers. He didn't know what the Wizengamot would do, even as Chief Warlock. He couldn't fix the vote of the supreme judicial body for the British Ministry of Magic. The fact that Miss Granger was a muggle witch using the 'killing curse' could swing the vote heavily against her.
"Harry, if she goes to trial-which is not a sure thing-she will at least go with a clean soul and proud to have defended the one she loved. Now she feels you are going to die in her place. She doesn't even realize that death is not the penalty and that losing your soul is not the penalty now that the Dementors are not at Azkaban. Give her life and dignity back to her Harry."
Dumbledore was sure he would have done the same in their situation with their resources. It was an alternative to Hermione. Had she had the ability to use more advanced non-lethal spells she would have done as someone with experience like Dumbledore or Snape had done in the past. He realized that stress brings out unlikely choices. He too was sad to the point of tears, but he held back.
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In the corridor a fragile Hermione awaited just a glimpse of her Harry. She wanted to hold him. She was sure that if she could be with him nothing bad would happen to him.