Close Or Far From The Law

Chapter 27 : 26. History of the war

Remus Lupine was fine. So much the better. Harry watched as the man, still tired from his transformation, sat down at the staff table. He realized that he had attacked this teacher and that the teacher didn't remember it. He had no idea what happened last night despite the fact that the Wolfsbane potion was supposed to help the human get the upper hand over the beast. Wouldn't he have drunk his potion? He found it hard to believe it… So what had happened? Harry took a long sip of tea, his mind still a little in shock from his latest adventure. Ron had been a little jealous and also happy not to have had to deal with the werewolf, Neville had seemed to faint at the news and really no longer looked at Professor Lupine like before the incident. Harry wanted to tell him that there was no need to be so afraid that he was fine…

Because it wasn't the encounter with the beast that left him dazed. No, that was the sequel. Voldemort's lips on hers. Harry felt himself turn pink and he looked down at the contents of his cup. As if his tea could tell him what to think or believe. Voldemort had kissed him and Harry felt like he felt it every time he closed his eyes. Every time his mind wandered towards this decidedly… incomprehensible man.

Although Harry was quite naive about certain things, he knew that this was not normal. That Voldemort had just crossed an invisible line of taboo, a blatant illegality. Certainly, the dark wizard already had a serious track record of things not to do but this one… What must Harry think of this one? What did that mean to him? He remembered how many times his aunt had reminded Dudley over and over again not to follow strangers, even if they offered him sweets and cakes. That these bad people would want to harm him by touching him inappropriately. Harry sort of grinned. Inappropriate. That was certainly the right word to describe what Voldemort had done. All right. SO…

Why couldn't Harry find this really wrong?

-Harry?

-Huh, yes Hermione?

-You didn't listen to anything, it seems.

-No, sorry, I was thinking... What is it?

-We were wondering if we should tell our friend what you know.

What they knew... Ron's look at Hagrid helped him understand what it was. Harry returned to his tea and finished it, again unsure of the answer to give. Of course it would be nice of them to tell him what happened but on the other hand, Hagrid was incapable of keeping a secret and Harry couldn't risk Sirius' freedom because the Care of the Creatures professor Magiques started talking too much. Buck being free should be enough for him... Maybe one day they'll see each other again. In the meantime, Sirius had installed the hippogriff in the stables and the animal was happy to be able to move freely again.

-No, it's dangerous for Padfoot. You know he can't keep a secret.

-Damn, I didn't think about it anymore...

Ron had wanted to appear like a hero in the eyes of the half-giant, for once that their adventure didn't make any noise... He would have liked that if it did. They had saved a life! They had done something good. Harry stood up smoothly.

-We have a history of magic class, come on.

-The worst. I'm tired of the goblin wars, as if they only knew how to do that, fight.

Harry smirked at this reflection, Ron was right to complain and without any particular enthusiasm, they went to their ghost professor's room. Sitting in his seat by the window, Harry waited for the start, his eyes glued to the green expanses of the Forbidden Forest while Ron had Hermione check his homework. She was still doing too much for him but still, they had moved forward. Ron's worst grades were obviously in Potions, Professor Snape having no desire to be impartial, especially during practice. Harry himself couldn't say his grades were better than acceptable despite his best efforts. When he showed one of his noted parchments to Voldemort, he read it seriously and then winced. His mentor had agreed that he had done his best and would not punish him for his poor grades in Potions. It wasn't his fault.