Chapter Twenty Three
After much careful consideration Harry and Hermione had decided not to confront Hagrid mainly because neither believed that he was a vicious assailant. There had been a brief relapse in the amount of attacks as nobody had been Petrified in weeks. Harry swiftly returned to training and was again practicing with weapons but this time Hermione accompanied him. She had been deeply affected by how easily she was manipulated by the mysterious Tom. They had not told anybody about the diary or its disappearance. This was due to the fact that they would end up repeating the story and therefore mentioning Hagrid who would in turn be accused of something he obviously did not do.
It was already reaching the end of May and most students were relieved that the end of the school year was approaching. Harry's concentration, though greatly troubled, was still focused on his school work. This benefited Hermione as she could think of something rather than fearing instant attack. Strict rules had been introduced on after school activities. Not one student was allowed leave their respective Houses after classes, this meant that the library was rarely open. Only Mr. Davis' area remained open for Harry but Madam Pince had been implored to close up after school hours. Students would have to attain books in between classes or at lunch times. This meant that every night Harry and Hermione would study in the Gryffindor common room which was packed in the latter days of the year.
Even though the constant chatter and occasional shouts were tiresome Harry did not wish to break any of the new school rules; even the Weasley twins abided by them. Every Gryffindors true colours were shown as they all kept hope alive for each other. But among the other Houses fissures were beginning to affect daily life. Most headstrong students had suspected a Slytherin but many now believed that a new Dark Wizard was approaching glory, Harry Potter. Gryffindors defended him with the obvious argument; how could he attack students when in a coma? But somebody, Harry suspected a Hufflepuff, had come up with an explanation that suited the weak minded followers- that Harry had been faking the coma in order to try and throw off suspicion. A lot of people scoffed off the theory and Harry tried to pass it off as nonsense but it still nagged at him when he was not suspecting it.
"Are you okay?"
He was brought back from his morbid path of thought by Hermione's concerned tone. He shrugged and gave her his usual grin that spoke a thousand words to her. She did not need him to reveal his thoughts anymore, after this long she could read his more obvious feelings. He was feeling much the same as her. Like most students they were awaiting the end of the school year but neither were naïve enough to believe they would reach it without some deadly spectacular event. He had his heart set on stopping the attacks and somewhere deep down she wondered what it would lead to. He would not leave the castle even if they made it to the end of the year without more harm.
"Anybody finished their Herbology?" Ron asked hopefully, his pen positioned over his blank parchment. Harry dug his essay out of his neat schoolbag and handed it over to him, much to Ron's pleasure. Thanking him, Ron then excused himself as he had to use `the little boy's toilets' as he referred to it.
Hermione huffed playfully at Harry. "I still cannot believe you give him your homework," she laughed sweetly.
"His schoolwork doesn't mean all too much to him. And anyway I doubt the teachers even care at the moment. He's still trying to recover from Ginny's attack. All taken into account, he's doing quite well. He's a good guy, and very generous…as long as it isn't anything to do with food," he joked, earning another laugh from Hermione. He flipped to another chapter of his Charms textbook. "He never asks about my training either. That makes me think that he isn't sneaky and not a threat to us."
"Ron…a threat. God no one would ever think that," giggled Hermione. "He is loyal and you're right; he's never inquired much about your training."
"Our training," Harry realised and corrected light-heartedly. Hermione did exactly as Harry hoped she would and laughed for a third time. "Will you ever tell him about your training?" she asked seriously. Quietly he placed his quill on the table. "Probably one day. Before it's too late," he chuckled. She did not laugh. If anything she scolded him with an intense glare. "Never say anything like that again, Harry."
He grinned sheepishly at her and her reprimanding expression disappeared. Ron returned to their table and yanked Harry's essay towards him. "Let's get cracking on, shall we?"
Suddenly there was a commotion at the Portrait Hole. Harry thought he recognised Fred Weasley groan loudly and somewhat miserably. Insecurity crept in on Harry and he whispered inconspicuously to Hermione. "Do you see that?" while nodding to the gathering crowd. "Yeah," she reassured him. "Don't worry it's not another premonition."
"It wasn't a premonition Hermione," he chastised. She shook her head defensively before getting to her feet. "It doesn't matter now. Come on lets see what's happened." The curious trio battled through the growing throng of students to see a saddening sight. George Weasley was slowly patting Fred on the back as the other Weasley rubbed his forehead distraughtly. "Abby's been attacked," he explained forlornly. "Petrified like the others."
Instantaneously the mass of inquisitiveness started to fire off questions.
"Abby who?"
"Where?"
"Is the school closing? Should we go and pack now?"
"Everybody calm down!" Harry yelled over the anxious crowd. "Abby is a sixth year, she's exuberant, cheerful, vibrant and she will recover from this. Let's wait for McGonagall before we start making wild assumptions about the closure of the castle." He gulped nervously as everyone stared at him. Deep down he himself pondered and dreaded the thought of the school being closed but he had meant every word he had said, Abby was one of the friendliest people he had met during his two years at Hogwarts.
It was not long after that a drawn and wearisome Professor McGonagall arrived and announced that they were to remain in Gryffindor Tower until further notice. She also declared that tomorrows classes were cancelled to which nobody cheered. Most students remained relatively assured and returned to their homework or to whatever games they were playing. Harry took Ron and Hermione aside. "We have to talk to Hagrid. It's now necessary, he might have some clue to what is happening, even if he isn't directly involved."
"I thought we agreed that he had nothing to do with it," admonished Ron. After they had told him he had blatantly refused to accept that Hagrid was in anyway implicated in the attacks. He immediately disliked Tom and had referred to him as `a dirty little snitch'.
"I know but he was there…fifty years ago when that girl was murdered. So he has to know something."
*******************************************************
There was an eerie stillness as they trekked across the empty grounds to Hagrid's cabin. They still had to be careful while making their way through the ancient castle as teachers and prefects patrolled the corridors. The Invisibility Cloak made everything much simpler so that they had alerted no one to their secretive actions The lights in Hagrid's cabin were extinguished and silence emanated from it. Harry briefly wondered whether he was even there. He had not seen Hagrid in months. Not since before his attack.
He knocked noisily on the wooden door and they waited nearly a whole minute for Hagrid to answer. Hermione inhaled deeply at the sight of Hagrid pointing a crossbow menacingly at them. "What on earth are you doing with that!" she exclaimed anxiously. He apologised profusely and invited them in hurriedly, explaining he thought they were someone else.
"Who did you think we were, Hagrid?" asked Harry soberly. He did not want to make Hagrid feel uneasy or uncomfortable but he needed the truth.
"There ar' things you don' know about, Harry. Things you don' wanna know about." Hagrid answered gruffly before returning his crossbow to beside his door. The cabin had lost all its warmth now that it did not have a kindling fire. There was no tea on the stove nor were there any of his rock scones laid out on plates.
"Who opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago?" Harry's burning eyes never left Hagrid's.
"There's somethin' you don' understand. It wasn't me…"
"We know it wasn't you," the trio chorused together. Hagrid seemed taken aback by the surety in their voices. Tears sprung to his eyes and he sniffed sadly.
"But you know who did. Somebody called Tom, you knew him?" Ron posed with more confidence than he felt.
"Oh I knew Tom alright. So do you Harry. Just not the same one…" He was cut off as three large knocks echoed throughout the cabin. Instantly Harry threw the cloak over himself, Ron and Hermione and ushered them into the corner. Hagrid snatched up his crossbow again and moved to the door, flinging it back on its hinges. "Headmaster!" he roared, swiftly lowering the crossbow to his side. "Well, dis is a surprise."
They watched keenly as Dumbledore entered the cabin and two others followed leisurely. A portly man in a pinstriped suit with a green overcoat and a bowler hat trailed Dumbledore, looking out of place among Hagrid's various possessions. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic," Hermione whispered close to Harry's ear. He gulped involuntarily but drove a nagging thought from his mind, resolving to think on it later. A prehistoric man climbed the step into Hagrid's cabin after Fudge and ambled over to one of Hagrid's wooden chairs, sitting in it as if it was his own with a bemused expression. Harry guessed that the man was slightly senile.
"I'm afraid we are here on rather unfortunate business Hagrid," said Dumbledore sombrely. He stared imploringly into Fudge's flushed cheeks. The colour drained from Hagrid's features and Harry noted with some trepidation how the giant man's hands shook with nerves. He made an ineffectual attempt to speak but no noise broke the silence.
The withering man in the chair finally coughed wearily and spoke almost to himself. "These are troubling times. The wizarding world is terrified. The Ministry is being blamed for lack of action during these harrowing events. Hogwarts is close to closure. This has happened before and somebody was caught the last time…"
"It remains to be recognised that all the evidence is circumstantial," Professor Dumbledore argued.
Fudge was wholly embarrassed and began fiddling with his bowler hat. "From my point of view, Hagrid's record is against him. The public, including the harassing media, are placing me under a lot of stress and unwanted pressure. Something must be done. If the attacker is caught then of course we will release Hagrid with a full apology, but for now I must take him. I would not be fulfilling my duty if I were to…"
"Not Azkaban…ye can' be serious!" Hagrid took a step back consequently knocking into his enormous black stove, sending a plate smashing to the floor. Broken fragments cascaded across the grimy wood of the floor.
"It will not be for long Hagrid, just a short stretch as a precaution," Fudge explained weakly.
Dumbledore's eyes blazed fierily as he answered Fudge's weak attempts. "This will not help in the slightest. Nothing will change, not until this assailant, who is not Hagrid, is reprimanded."
Hagrid sobbed into the palms of his gigantic hands uncontrollably. Devastation racked his huge body. Harry could see the tears running through his fingers and it became apparent he was physically trembling. Harry knew Hermione wanted to console him. He noiselessly put his arm around her fretful form. The mere mention of Azkaban could bring down a soldier, Harry thought. His mind wandered to Rabastan and what he must have endured at such a young age.
Another loud rap on the door signalled the arrival of another person. Dumbledore answered it deftly and Lucius Malfoy entered to an audible gasp from Ron. Only the elderly wizard in the chair must have noticed it but he instantly ignored it as part of his imagination.
Lucius strode importantly into the cabin with a small nod to the Headmaster. He was shrouded in a black cloak and black boots that clipped the even dusty wood of the floor. He nodded approvingly at Fudge who acknowledged it somewhat proudly.
Taking no notice of Hagrid or the older wizard, he smiled coldly at Dumbledore. "I'm afraid Dumbledore that I have some unfortunate news. Because of the most ill-fated recent attacks on the students of Hogwarts and your failure to do anything during this time, the governors feel it is time you step aside. This is an Order of Suspension…with twelve signatures if you do not trust its authenticity." He handed it out to Dumbledore who did not react. A stricken Fudge snatched it out of Malfoy's grasp.
"You cannot be serious. If Dumbledore cannot stop these attacks…who can?! I must implore you…" he stuttered staring at the scrawled messy signatures across the parchment.
"As Minister you have no authority over Hogwarts…that is the governors duty not yours. We feel that Dumbledore's lack of action should be dealt with appropriately. There is also another matter of importance I must…" Lucius started but was interrupted.
"That's not righ'. How did ye blackmail them, Lucius? Treachery an' tortur'. We all know you ne'er stopped your dirty work for `im." Hagrid roared furiously.
"Hagrid!" Dumbledore said sharply causing silence to descend on the room once again. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside." Fudge stuttered something incomprehensible while Hagrid growled frustratingly.
"No," Harry breathed hopelessly. A stunned silence enveloped them again before Dumbledore continued on. "It is significant not to forget however, that I will never have truly left this school until none here are loyal to me." His eyes flickered into the trio's direction earning a soft gasp from Hermione. Hagrid sniffed proudly and turned around so that he had his back to them. Harry thought he heard a faint scribbling but within moments Hagrid had turned back around and grabbed his moleskin overcoat.
"Lucius…you spoke of another important affair. Would you care to explain?" Dumbledore asked in a civilized manner.
"Ah, yes Dumbledore," Mr. Malfoy smiled callously. "It is about one Harry Potter. I have heard much of his doings in the past few months and the governors and I believe that he has played with fire far too long. Potter has himself been accused of the attacks. It seems that he has been displaying magic well beyond his years. He's on his last chance. One more toe out of line and he'll face immediate expulsion and a Ministry hearing."
Dumbledore blue eyes burned fiercely behind his gold spectacles. "Mark my words Lucius. You chose the wrong side." With that he marched out the door.
Hagrid, who had previously looked outraged at Lucius' comments about Harry, strode out past him nonchalantly. "Come on, Minister. Best be off." Fudge looked startled but followed, Malfoy in his wake. The trio watched patiently as the aged wizard struggled out of his chair and onto his feet. With some effort he managed to leave the cabin and shut the door with a wave of his wand.
Ron ripped the Invisibility Cloak off. "We're in trouble now. No Dumbledore!" he groaned. "And what was that with you being expelled for actually knowing magic! I mean the world is just going mad!"
"No…it makes sense. Something strange is happening. That's why Mr. Malfoy was so arrogant, he knew Dumbledore was being shunned out of the way and he knew how much it would hurt him if they got to you," Hermione stated looking at Harry. "He's planning something. Hagrid's right, he probably blackmailed the governors into signing the suspension order for Dumbledore. Maybe he's planning a take over or something."
"Malfoy's dad taking over Hogwarts! No way," exclaimed Ron incredulously. "That's just stupidity."
"It was just a suggestion." Hermione retorted angrily.
"No, Ron's right," said Harry thoughtfully. "Lucius isn't strong enough to plan to occupy Hogwarts. But he must be working up something. He would not be so determined to get rid of Dumbledore if he didn't already know who his successor was. I just can't make the connection," he sighed, aggravated. He collapsed into one of Hagrid's chairs while massaging his head.
"Chrissake!" Ron jumped as Fang trudged mournfully out of the shadows and went over to Harry. Harry patted him sympathetically on the head as he slobbered all over him. "We best get going. We'll have to be careful…considering I could be sent to Azkaban for breaking a school rule."
"You wouldn't be sent to Azkaban," Hermione reasoned following him out the door. When they had made sure everything was locked up safely they all got back under the Invisibility Cloak and tramped back up to the castle. "I might not be sent to Azkaban," Harry replied "but I'd say that Ministry hearing wouldn't go all to well."
-->