If Only//Harry Potter [4]

26

"So, how did you figure it out?" Hermione asked as the two packed their things.

The Gryffindor dormitory was quiet. Everyone was out and about, probably avoiding Harry and Autumn, trying to give them some space. Autumn appreciated it, but she needed her friends more than ever. This next year, she was going to start telling them everything. They were her friends, and they deserved to know what she was going through. They didn't deserve any more secrets.

"Figure what out?" Autumn asked, trying to narrow down what she needed to talk about.

"That it was Moody and not Ivan Karkaroff or Madam Maxine." Hermione clarified.

"Well, for starters, they're like the Dumbledore's of their schools because they are the headmasters. So, their students would've figured something was wrong, I suppose. But I really figured it out as the third task began. Moody pointed Harry in the direction of the Cup, which I thought was weird. But it just. . . fit." Autumn tried to explain. "Moody always drinking from the flask, which I figured was the Polyjuice Potion." 

"I can't believe I didn't think of that. It was so obvious." Hermione trailed off. "When you ran off at the third task, I was going to go after you but I saw you were with Matt so I stayed seated. Where is Matt, by the way?"

"Well, he can go to hell for all I care."

"What? Did he break up with you?" Hermione stopped packing and walked with haste to Autumn, making sure she was okay.

"I think so." Autumn said nonchalantly. "With him working with my father who is a Death Eater, I think I made it clear that we weren't going to see each other anymore."

"Oh my. . ." Hermione started to say, but Autumn laughed.

"It's okay, Hermione. I'm sure I'll be upset about this for a while, but right now I'm okay."

Hermione laughed too. "I can't believe the school year's almost over. It feels like it just started."

"Yeah, it does." Autumn agreed. "I don't want to go back to the Orphanage. I think I'm just going to wander the city."

"Why don't you stay with me?" Hermione cheered.

Autumn widened her eyes. "Could I?"

"I'll write to my parents, but I'm sure if I explain your. . . erm," Hermione paused, not knowing what to say,". . . situation they'll let you stay." 

"My situation?" Autumn asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "What's my situation?"

"Well, remember when you told Harry and Matt to get along?"

Autumn sighed, remembering why she had to tell them. Harry had had an uneasy feeling about Matt, and he was right. "Yes, I remember."

"Well, Autumn, it turns out, you told Matt almost everything about. . . well, everything. And he told us to get Harry jealous."

"He did?" Autumn jerked her head back around. "Wait, jealous? Harry? Why would he think that would work?"

"I dunno." Hermione answered. "But it worked, he was just upset that you told him everything instead of your friends."

"I can understand that, but what did I tell Matt that you three now know?"

"Well, to summarize, everything. But I was talking about how your caretaker treats you." Hermione spoke quickly, as if she thought Autumn would get mad at her.

"Oh." Autumn stated simply. She then sighed and smiled. "It feels so good to not have secrets anymore."

Hermione smiled when Autumn didn't react badly. 

"I'm sorry I kept things from you, it's just that, well, you know where I came from and most things I had to keep to myself or I'd be made fun of." Autumn threw her back on the bed, smiling. "It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Like, ask me anything and I can answer honestly."

Hermione smiled even wider. "We should get back to packing. I'll send that letter to my parents when I'm done."

Autumn smiled, thinking about living with Hermione as she packed her things away. 

>>>

Autumn walked down the stairs from the girls' dormitory slowly, trying not to disturb anyone who was in the common room. When Dumbledore walked to the bottom of the stairs towards her, she felt like something was wrong.

"Sir?" Autumn asked, curious as to why Dumbledore was in the Common Room.

"Can I have a word, Miss Grey?"

Autumn looked around, looking for a reason not to go, but she didn't find one. "Sure."

The Common Room was nearly empty, people just using it to get to and from their dormitories. 

"I have multiple sources that tell me you have undergone the Cruciatus Curse on the night of the third task."

"If I may," Autumn interrupted. "So has Harry."

"I am very well aware, but it has happened multiple times to you, and for that I am sorry."

Autumn stayed silent, the nights of the curses still playing in her mind.

"Some who undergo the curse many times get very ill and never return to normal, and that is why I am sorry."

She slowly nodded, telling Dumbledore she understood.

"If there is anything you can tell me about the night of the Third Task, do not hesitate to do so." Dumbledore walked  away, ready to leave. But just as he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Autumn spoke up.

"Professor?"

Dumbledore turned around, cueing Autumn to continue speaking. "Did you know my father?"

Dumbledore nodded. "That I did."

"Do you know who he's become and what he does now?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I believe I do."

Autumn looked at the ground, thoughts running wild in her head. She was told her parents were dead. Dumbledore nearly confirmed it himself, but he knew about her father. So why didn't he tell her that he was still alive?

"And Matt? Do you know about him?" Autumn asked, unsure if she needed to be more specific.

"I do, yes. As it turns, he claims to be put under the Imperius Curse by your father."

"He's lying!" Autumn shouted. "

Dumbledore remained calm despite Autumn's yell of anger. "Unfortunately, Miss Grey, we have no proof otherwise and he is allowed to stay at Hogwarts under my protection."

"Protection? Who's going to attack him? My father, who's now actually dead?"

Dumbledore spoke smoothly and composedly, "Everyone deserves protection, Miss Grey. Some just don't think about how to avoid needing it themselves." And with that, Dumbledore walked through the portrait.

Autumn sat there, thinking about what Dumbledore had said. 'Some just don't think about how to avoid needing it themselves.' What the hell did that mean? Who needs to avoid needing protection? Autumn? Harry? Ron? Hermione? Matt?

She shuddered at the thought. She knew Matt had done this himself. There was no spell forcing him to play her like a violin. There was no spell that had made him lure Autumn into a relationship. That was all him. Of course, the only spell that was cast into play was on Autumn, to make her open up to Matt.

But what if there wasn't a spell? What if she had actually liked Matt enough to open up? Ernest had said himself that the spell didn't work on Harry, Hermione, or Ron. So what were the chances that this was all on her?