Tory Potter and the Pathological Liar

The Forbidden Forest

"Suspicious" was the first word that came to mind as we were walked through the silent, dark halls. They were even more quiet and devoid of light than usual…

Mr. Filch didn't seem to mind one bit as he led us down to Professor McGonagall's study on the first floor, where we sat and waited without saying a word to each other.

Poor Hermione was trembling.

Harry was clearly making up excuses, alibis, and wild cover-up stories.

I was sitting back in my chair calmly. I knew I wouldn't get expelled, not by my Head of House. I also knew, however, punishment would be something almost worse. I could only wait for divine judgement to arrive.

When Professor McGonagall appeared, she was leading Neville.

"Harry!" Neville burst out the moment he saw us four. "I was trying to find you to warn you! I heard Malfoy say he was going to catch you! He said you had a drag-"

Harry shook his head violently to shut Neville up, but Professor McGonagall had seen.

She looked more ready to breathe fire than Nataliya as she towered over the five of us. "I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves."

I looked left, then to my right, and then sighed. I stepped forwards. "Okay, here's what happened-"

"I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on," Professor McGonagall said, "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull-"

I recoiled at her language, putting my hand to my chest.

"-story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble," she continued as if unaffected by my action. "I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?"

I immediately stood up, standing up for myself. "First of all, dragon was the codeword for our studies. We decided to make our studies more fun by adding things like that. There was no intention of getting Draco Malfoy in trouble. He assumed things, and you know what they say about assuming things." I nodded my head once. "As for why we were out of bed, Professor Sinistra mentioned that the stars would be unusually bright tonight, and I insisted that we go see them. The fault is mine. Finally, we would never find it funny that another student would get in trouble because of something we did. We're not filthy degenerates."

Professor McGonagall looked taken aback by my outburst.

"I shall not stand you insulting my friends!" I stated as I stomped my foot down. I huffed as I crossed my arms, turning my head away from her.

Professor McGonagall stared for a long moment down at me.

As I allowed myself to calm down, Terrance shifted on my head awkwardly. The acromantula cleared his throat before drawling out, "Well-"

"I'm disgusted-"

"Don't you talk to Terrance like that," I hissed at the woman as I shielded my tiny friend from the tall witch.

"Five students out of bed in one night!" She continued to rant as if I hadn't interrupted her, "I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this." Her emerald green eyes narrowed in on me. "Mr. Potter, I thought your friends meant more to you than this."

As her words sunk in, I felt a bit of sorrow. I then reminded myself that Mr. Hagrid could have gone to Azkaban if I didn't step in, so I was still morally correct. I decided to remain defiant in my will.