Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

147. Junior

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but Dumbledore when I catch you, when I catch you Dumbledore

__________<>__________

Harry had been reminded of the reality of his life pretty harshly that day.

Twice.

The first time, he had almost been drowned in the Black Lake taking part in a deadly challenge of which he was mysteriously forced into before saving himself and ending up placing second only to be celebrated and congratulated by all his friends.

The second time, he had officially taken the step to become more than just friends with the girl he had loved for years before stumbling across a dead man in the forest which wound him up in Dumbledore's office.

Both of those times, he had been on each end of the scale between total joy and total alarm.

Which is what reminded him of the reality of his life.

He never spent a single moment in the middle.

Just simply being a normal and content teenage boy.

But Harry was a firm believer in every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

If he was going to experience the high points of being in a new relationship with a girl as amazing as Mabel Whitlock, he was going to experience some pretty poor lows in return.

Of course, he thinks he had already experienced enough of those lows in his life already over the years.

But clearly, the universe hadn't had enough of dealing them out quite yet.

After getting himself changed in his dorm room, Harry had headed straight for the headmaster's office as instructed.

He tried to keep his mind from racing, hoping he would be provided with some form of answers.

All he really hoped was that Bel wouldn't be there too.

She had been returned back to the hospital wing by Hagrid, despite her protests.

But Harry knew Dumbledore had benched her, wanting to keep her out of danger and responsibility until she was fully recovered.

If he didn't want his ward to be involved, she would have to adhere to his instruction.

As Harry stepped off the rotating stone steps leading up to Dumbledore's office, voices from behind the door hit his ears.

"A man has died here, Fudge. And he won't be the last. You must take action!" the headmaster's low and gruff voice demanded.

Harry slowly inched quietly towards the door, automatically more on edge hearing that the Minister for Magic was present.

Of course he would be.

Barty Crouch was a high-ranking ministry man.

But what Fudge being present meant was that Bels presence would be demanded.

Harry knew how much the ministry sunk its claws into her.

"I will not. In times like these, the wizarding world looks to its leaders for strength, Dumbledore", Fudge's voice sternly replied.

"Then for once, show them some!" Dumbledore argued back in anger.

"I'd be happy to. But the strength I'd rather deploy is currently locked away in a hospital wing, and you're refusing to let her out!"