NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 44
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Chapter 44- Welcome.
"Wow, you boys have really messed up this time, huh?" I say aloud and can only smile as they jump from their seats, Ron literally falling off of his as they turn around to see me standing there.
"Professor Lockhart?" Harry says, and I nod my head at the boys.
"I mean, I did some things in my time, but never anything like this. I burned my name into the quidditch field and even made a massive projection of my face over the school, but you two have blown me out of the water. You might even be expelled for this." I say, and I can see the worry appear on both of their faces. They probably assumed some punishment and detentions were coming their way but never expulsion. I just put the thought in their head.
"Y-You can't be serious! They won't actually expel us... will they?" Ron says, his voice firm at the beginning and disbelieving before doubt enters at the end. Harry just stood there, not saying anything, but I could tell he was imagining the worst possible thing, which probably meant forgetting all about the magical world and going back to the mercies of the Dursleys.
"Are you kidding?" I say, looking at them like they are stupid. They both blush red, probably because it is a teacher who is looking at them like they are fools.
"You two broke the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. That isn't just a word, you know, that means something." I start. "Muggles saw you. They saw that flying blue car of yours. That is a serious breach into the safety and secrecy of the wizarding world, and I have no doubt that an insane amount of work is going on to cover up your actions today." I say, impressing the seriousness upon them. I know they will get away with a slap on the wrist, but it is fun to shit them up.
"W-We are sorry. We won't do anything like this again. Is there any way for us to not be expelled... please." Harry pleas when Ron freezes up, unable to say anything. He probably just realised his mother is going to do more than kill him, and Harry desperately doesn't want to leave Hogwarts. He sees it as his home. Hell, there is probably a fifty percent chance that if he is expelled and sent back to the Dursleys, then he will kill himself.
"...Expelled?" I ask, and I can see they sense the ominous tone of my voice. "Being expelled is one of the nicer outcomes apart from getting off with a detention. Most people would be wiped of their memories and have their magic taken away, and their wand snapped. They would completely forget about Hogwarts and magic and go live mundane lives. Just normal muggles, thinking magic isn't real." I finish, and I am greeted by silence.
"I will leave you both to ponder on that until Professor Snape returns. Sit back in your seats." I direct them, and they both do so without words, lost in their thoughts and most likely regretting their actions. I move myself over to a corner of the room and lean back against the wall, leaving them both to stew. I wait a minute, and then I get bored of that, so I connect to Harry's mind once again. Just for a little... check, shall we call it.
With full concentration and not being distracted by anything else or worried about getting caught, since Snape is away and the boys are lost in their thoughts, I can properly search Harry's mind. More than just surface thoughts this time. I want to take this quick minute alone to explore the boy's mind for the events of last year to make sure things are as close to canon as possible so I can proceed according to plan.
Now fully delved into his mind, I take caution to avoid the dark taint I can sense in a part of his head. Now, I know I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to the mind, but that doesn't include Horcruxes, so I am going to stay as far away from that as possible. I can already see it influencing the boy slightly, so I don't want it to get a whiff of a better specimen or jump ship. A bloody book is capable of manifesting itself. Who knows what the other Horcruxes are capable of.
Ignoring the scar in Harry's head, I focus on searching his mind for his memories of the previous year. I make sure to keep it to just last year, as I don't want to go back and see how he was treated at the Dursleys in case it is worse than I thought. This boy is going to get involved in a ton of shit and hurt in the future, so I don't want to feel pity or sympathy for him, as it will just get in the way.
Reviewing them, I noticed some things that are different from the film. First of all, Harry had a midnight duel with Malfoy; he was tricked and filch came to catch him, and peeves got in the way, and that is how he finds Fluffy. Amusingly, another change is when the troll enters the school, and Harry and Ron see it going into a room, and so they lock the door behind it, only to hear Hermione scream moments later and realise it is the girl's bathroom.
Voldemort's ugly face getting pelted by snowballs is a funny memory. Harry saw his grandparents along with his parents in the Mirror of Erised. They found out about Nicholas Flamel through Dumbledore's chocolate frog card and not Hermione finding it in a book. They actually did a secret mission to send the little dragon Norberta to Charlie Weasley in Romania. Getting caught there is how they get the detention in the forbidden forest. The ghost Peeves. They use a flute to put Fluffy to sleep. There was also a troll as one of the tests, as well as another trap by Snape with a riddle, potions and a wall of flames.
And those are just a few. There are dozens of other changes and differences, but it doesn't really matter. The broad strokes are the same when you get down to it, so this doesn't really impact my actions going forward. Feeling that I have spent enough time in Harry's mind, I retreat and return to just scanning his and Ron's surface thoughts to see what they are thinking at the moment. The door opens at that moment.
Approximately ten minutes after he left, Snape returned, and sure enough, it was Professor McGonagall who accompanied him. Wanting to know what the boys are thinking, I focus on their focus thoughts again. Harry had seen Professor McGonagall angry on several occasions, but either he had forgotten just how thin her mouth could go, or he had never seen her this angry before. She raised her wand the moment she entered. Harry and Ron both flinched, but she merely pointed it at the empty fireplace, where flames suddenly erupted.
"Sit," she said, and they both backed into chairs by the fire. Her eyes look at me for a moment, and I wave brightly at her, but she just ignores me. "Explain," she said, her glasses glinting ominously. Ron, eager for the chance to defend himself to someone who will actually listen, launched into the story, starting with the barrier at the station refusing to let them through.
"-so we had no choice, Professor, we couldn't get on the train," Ron said, and feeling the moment right, I interjected.
"You had no choice? That isn't true. You had many choices. You could have waited for your parents. You could have used the knight bus to go home. That is what it is for, stranded witches and wizards. You could have-" I get on a roll, coming up with things they could have done, wanting Snape and McGonagall to take me seriously as a professor.
"Ahem. Thank you, but I will take it from here, Gilderoy. They are students from my house, after all. Boys, Professor Lockhart is correct." Professor McGonagall interrupts me, taking back control of the conversation.
"Why didn't you send us a letter by owl? I believe you have an owl?" Professor McGonagall said coldly to Harry. Harry gaped at her. Now she said it, that seemed the obvious thing to have done.
"I - I didn't think -"
"That," said Professor McGonagall, "is obvious." There was a knock on the office door, and Snape opened it, now looking happier than ever. There stood the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. Harry's whole body went numb. Dumbledore was looking unusually grave. He stared down his very crooked nose at them, and Harry suddenly found himself wishing he and Ron were still being beaten up by the Whomping Willow.
There was a long silence. Then Dumbledore said, "Please explain why you did this." It would have been better if he had shouted. Harry hated the disappointment in his voice. For some reason, he was unable to look Dumbledore in the eyes and spoke instead to his knees. He told Dumbledore everything except that Mr Weasley owned the bewitched car, making it sound as though he and Ron had happened to find a flying car parked outside the station. He knew Dumbledore would see through this at once, but Dumbledore asked no questions about the vehicle. When Harry had finished, he merely continued to peer at them through his spectacles.
"We'll go and get our stuff," said Ron in a hopeless sort of voice.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" barked Professor McGonagall.
"Well, you're expelling us, aren't you?" said Ron. Harry looked quickly at Dumbledore.
"Not today, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. "But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to both of your families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
Snape looked as though Christmas had been cancelled. He cleared his throat and said, "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry and caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree. Surely acts of this nature-"
"It will be for Professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "They are in her House and are, therefore, her responsibility." He turned to Professor McGonagall. "I must go back to the feast, Minerva. I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, there's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample."
Snape shot a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron as he allowed himself to be swept out of his office, leaving them alone with Professor McGonagall, who was still eyeing them like a wrathful eagle. "You'd better get along to the hospital wing, Weasley. You're bleeding."
"Not much," said Ron, hastily wiping the cut over his eye with his sleeve. "Professor, I wanted to watch my sister being Sorted-"
"The Sorting Ceremony is over," said Professor McGonagall. "Your sister is also in Gryffindor."
"Oh, good," said Ron. "And speaking of Gryffindor-" Professor McGonagall said sharply, but Harry cut in.
"Professor, when we took the car, the term hadn't started, so- so Gryffindor shouldn't really have points taken from it. Should it?" he finished, watching her anxiously. Professor McGonagall gave him a piercing look, but he was sure she had almost smiled. Her mouth looked less thin, anyway.
"I will not take any points from Gryffindor," she said, and Harry's heart lightened considerably. "But you will both get a detention." It was better than Harry had expected. As for Dumbledore's writing to the Dursleys, that was nothing. Harry knew perfectly well they'd just be disappointed that the Whomping Willow hadn't squashed him flat.
Professor McGonagall raised her wand again and pointed it at Snape's desk. A large plate of sandwiches, two silver goblets, and a jug of iced pumpkin juice appeared with a pop. "You will eat in here and then go straight up to your dormitory," she said. "I must also return to the feast." I guess as a teacher, I am not their responsibility, so Dumbledore didn't question my presence, and McGonagall didn't bother to question why I was still here. I am sure if Snape was here, he would kick me, as well as the two boys, out.
Ron let out a long, low whistle when the door closed behind her. "I thought we'd had it," he said, grabbing a sandwich.
"So did I," said Harry, taking one, too.
"Can you believe our luck, though?" said Ron thickly through a mouthful of chicken and ham. "Fred and George must've flown that car five or six times, and no Muggle ever saw them." He swallowed and took another huge bite.
"Why couldn't we get through the barrier?" Harry shrugged. "We'll have to watch our step from now on, though," he said, taking a grateful swig of pumpkin juice. "Wish we could've gone up to the feast..."
"She didn't want us showing off," said Ron sagely. "Doesn't want people to think it's clever, arriving by flying car." And then he starts stuffing his face.
"Also, she can't just let you go to the feast, looking like nothing happened to you at all. You are supposed to be getting a punishment, and showing up at the feast sends the wrong message. Oh, is that a jam sandwich?" I reach over Ron to pick it up and bring it to my mouth, taking a bite. Hearing the surroundings go oddly quiet, I look at the boys.
They are both looking at me confused where I sit in a chair next to Ron, with my own cup of Pumpkin juice and a plate. Well, I didn't have a chance to eat back in the great hall, and I would feel pretty awkward to reenter the hall and walk all the way down the hall past all of the students and then past the other professors to take my seat. There is food right in front of me, so I will help myself.
"What are you doing here!?" Ron blurts out, being the rash type of boy he was that would fly his parents' car to school.
"Is there a reason I can't be here?" I ask back, munching down on my jam sandwich. Damn, I haven't had one of these in ages. What else do you even use jam in, apart from doughnuts and other pastries?
"...Uh," Ron says smartly before doing the easy thing and going back to munching on his food. Meanwhile, Harry looks at me, and I raise an eyebrow as I take a sip of my pumpkin jui- Shit, why is that so sweet. I feel like my teeth are going to fall out. I hadn't tried it before, so I gave it a shot. But now I want to spit it out, but I can't really ruin my image in front of my two students, so I swallow it down with a smile.
"So, Harry," I say, placing the cup back on the table, knowing I would not be picking it up again. "How did you find it? Making your broom. Were you happy with the result?" I ask, since I never really checked in with him. I just knew that he was picked up, and then the broom was designed, and they dropped him off at home.
"Yes, sir. It was a great experience." Harry responds with a smile. Well, good for him. Either way, I have ten special brooms to sell off for exorbitant amounts. I will probably have them out in time for Christmas, so people will be rushing for them as a present.
"Well, I look forward to seeing you ride it in the upcoming Quidditch matches," I say, knowing that he would be playing as a Seeker again this year.
"Ah, I didn't take it, professor," Harry responds, and I look at him weirdly.
"You didn't? Why?" I ask, very confused. The plan was for him to design it and then for there to be eleven made, ten for sale and the very first one for him to take. They are all numbered. The number one is obviously going to be worth a lot, and I was willing to let Harry have it.
"Ah, well, I am happy with my current broom. I didn't need another one." He says, and I have to wonder if this kid is stupid. He can have more than one of the same thing. I guess he has that frugal mentality since he got just scraps living with the Dursleys, so he won't ask for more. Oh well, I can keep it. Maybe display it in a glass box in my office or sell it for a bunch.
After that they just focus on their meal and talk to each other, and I get bored of that since it is just two idiot kids chatting about stupid things. I get up and leave them to it, heading back to the great hall. The sandwiches were great, but I wanted something a bit more filling. Let's hope that the feast isn't over yet.
Let's also hope that I can find something bloody fun to do in this place because I will lose my mind if it is just teaching kids for the next year.
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