The American Enigma

This Is Gonna Hurt

To all those voting, leaving comments, adding this story to reading lists, reading it, and just everything else, I thank you all.

And also, just because of how easily he made it to hate Lucius, this is a Jason Isaacs appreciation chapter, cause from the improved lines to holding his head up when talking, he took Lucius Malfoy and turned him into such a character.

The commotion had drawn Filch's attention and the man pushed through the crowd.

"What's going on here? What's going on?" He spotted Mrs. Norris then, eyes going wide as Harry was holding her gently. "My cat! My cat! What happened to Mrs. Norris! You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her!" He screamed at him, lifting the unsuspecting Gryffindor up. Harry tried to argue his defense, but Filch was quite ticked off.

"I'll kill ya!" Was the only thing he could say, until Dumbledore stepped in.

"Argus," He snapped, stepping in and taking in the scene, before looking at the students. "Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately. Come with me, Argus. You too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, and you, Mr. Stafford."

"My office is nearest, Headmaster," Lockhart offered. "Just upstairs. Please feel free."

"Thank you, Gilderoy."

They all moved up to his office and laid Mrs. Norris down on the desk, beginning his examination of her. I think she was petrified, but what was the cause of the blood writing?

"It was definitely a curse that killed her – probably the Transmogrifian Torture. I’ve seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn’t there, I know the very counter-curse that would have saved her …" he trailed off, and Hermione seemed to believe him, causing the jealousy to bubble back up.

"Do the counter curse then. Cause she's not dead." I shot back, earning a surprised look.

"And how, pray tell, do you know that?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"The writing on the wall." He motioned for me to continue. "It looked to be close to dry, but not completely. Which, if I remember correctly, cause some of it to pool underneath the body." He nodded sagely, adding on.

"You are somewhat correct. It would've caused some pooling, but I'm certain that blood didn't belong to a cat or human. There could've been an Unforgivable used, yes, but I do not believe that to be the case." He turned to Filch after that statement. "However, he is correct in assuming that Mrs. Norris was petrified. How, I can not say."

"Ask him!" He squealed, pointing a finger at Harry. "He did it!"

"No I didn't! I would never touch Mrs. Norris!" Harry argued, with Ron butting in to offer some unhelpful words.

"Then again, who would?"

"Professor Sprout has some Mandrakes. We'll be able to cure her."

"I’ll make it," Lockhart butted in. ‘I must have done it a hundred times, I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep –"

"Excuse me," Snape started icily. "I do believe that I am the Potions Master."

"No, let him do it. I'll help. I'll make sure it's extremely poisonous to liars and frauds, test it on you, and then help Professor Snape actually make it." I could feel the scolding from Hermione in her glare.

"Mr. Stafford does raise quite the compelling argument, but alas, we can not risk anything going wrong." Damn.

"Then all are free to go." We quickly made our way to the tower, arguing over whether or not Harry should've told them about the voice. A voice from a random painting agreed with us, which was as helpful as throwing gas on a fire.