~ chapter fourteen: cornelius fudge ~
also, i hope you liked that little poem harry wrote for y/n in the last chapter, i had to get creative and write it myself lmao- my brain cells hurt trying to think of a poem that wasn't cringe-worthy in the slightest- did y'all like it? idrk lmao- i mean it wasn't that bad right?
and also, keep the numbers harry used to sign his valentine in mind! they'll come up again in seventh year during horcrux hunting and they have a meaning if you squint, so theorize in the comments what you think the numbers mean. i'm actually interested to see what you think-
and if y'all are like 'ivy, why haven't you updated "my strange addiction" yet?', i decided once again to put it on hiatus until this book is finished, so you won't get the next part until-like-the next two years? (i'm sorryyyyyyyyy i'm just trying to think logically because of how long it's been since i updated this book 😭)
anyways, i'm sorry for stalling y'all so long. so without further ado, here is chapter fourteen of year two!
Harry, Ron, Hermione and I had always known that Hagrid had an unfortunate liking for large and monstrous creatures. I mean, look at our first year; he had tried to raise a dragon in his little wooden house, and it would be a long time before we forgot the giant, three-headed dog he'd christened 'Fluffy' living in the castle who had tried to kill us multiple times before. And if, as a boy, Hagrid had heard that a monster was hiding somewhere in the castle, I was quite sure he would have gone for any lengths for a glimpse of it. He had probably thought it was a shame that the monster had been cooped up for so long, and thought it deserved the chance to stretch its many legs; I could jut imagine the thirteen-year-old Hagrid trying to fit a leash and collar on it. But I was equally certain that Hagrid would never have meant to kill anybody. The Hagrid I knew would never mean to kill anyone, that was for sure. He was a teenager, after all. Teens do stupid stuff. I should know-you should have seen the things the teenagers at the orphanage did.
I was also starting to regret finding out how Riddle's diary worked; Ron and Hermione were making us recount what we'd seen until we were heartily sick of telling them and sick of the long, circular conversations that followed.
"It was Hagrid. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago," Harry explained again.
"It can't be Hagrid," Hermione protested. "It just can't be."
"We don't even know this Tom Riddle," Ron agreed. "He sounds like a dirty rotten snitch to me."
"The monster killed someone, Ron," I countered. "What would any of us have done?"
"And it all adds up," Harry added. "Hagrid got expelled fifty years ago. Riddle got his award for special services to the school fifty years ago, and he got his award by catching the Heir of Slytherin and getting him expelled. And it's definitely no secret that he likes monsters."
"Look, Hagrid's our friend," Hermione suggested. "Why don't we just go and ask him about it?"
"That sounds like a cheerful visit," I said sarcastically. "'Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?'"
"Mad and hairy? Yeh wouldn' be talking about me now, would yeh?"
'Oh, shit.'
"No!" Harry, Ron, Hermione and I said simultaneously as we whipped around.
There was an awkward silence for a bit, and I was thinking, 'Shit. Maybe we said it too quickly.'
Trying to break it as quickly as I could, I said the first thing that came to mind. "Say, Hagrid, what's that you've got?"
"Oh, it's Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent," Hagrid said happily. "For the Mandrakes, you know. Now, according to Professor Sprout, they've still got a bit of growing up to do, but once their acne's cleared up, we'll be able ter chop 'em and stew 'em, and then we'll get those people in the hospital wing unpetrified-for the meantime, though, you four best be looking out for yerselves, all right?" When he turned to leave, Lavender rushed in. "Hello, Lavender."
"Y/N!" She sounded panicked, as though she had just realized something alarming. "I don't know who did it-they must've been looking for something-I don't know what, though-just come on!"
"Lavender, what's going on?" I asked, alarmed.
"I don't know, exactly, just come on, it's urgent, you've got to see this!" She grabbed my arm, tugging me away.
Hermione and I followed Lavender into the girls' dormitory to see the contents of my trunk had been thrown everywhere. My cloak lay ripped on the floor. The bedclothes had been pulled off my four-poster and the drawer had been pulled out of my bedside cabinet, the contents strewn over the mattress.
"Holy shit," I muttered to myself, treading on a few loose pages of Travels with Trolls. As Lavender and I pulled the blankets back onto my bed, Hermione asked, "What d'you think happened, Y/N?"
"No idea," I replied, looking over at her to see her examining my robes, which had all the pockets hanging out.
"I think," she said finally, "someone's been looking for something. Is there anything missing?" She looked down at the floor, openmouthed, and the loose pages of Travels with Trolls. "They even destroyed Lockhart's books..."
"Oh, no, whatever shall I do?" I asked sarcastically, starting to pick up all my things and throw them into my trunk.
"I'm serious, Y/N."
"Yeah, they destroyed my Lockhart books, so what? Some sacrifices need to be made, that's all."
It was only as I threw the last of the Lockhart books back into it that I realized what wasn't there.
"Riddle's diary's gone," I said in an undertone to Hermione.
"What? It can't be, maybe you dropped it somewhere and Harry or Ron picked it up-"
"It can't have been," I replied. "I distinctly remember putting it on my bed."
Hermione was mortified. "But-if you put it here-only a Gryffindor girl can get into the girls' dormitory-"
"Exactly."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"All right, listen up," Wood ordered. "We play our game, Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance."
I nearly laughed at that. Wood had no reason to be that confident this year. I mean, Harry's arm got broken and my leg got broken as well-even though that was Dobby's doing, I felt like there was something off. Like something bad was going to happen. I just couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Wood continued as he began to lead us on the field, "We're stronger, quicker, and smarter."
"And not to mention, they're dead scared that Harry or Y/N'll Petrify them if they fly anywhere near them," Fred chuckled.
"Well, that too," Wood admitted as Professor McGonagall approached us. He turned his attention to her. "Professor McGonagall."
"This match has been cancelled."
"You can't cancel Quidditch," Wood protested.
"Silence, Wood," Professor McGonagall snapped. "You and your teammates will go to Gryffindor Tower, now."
The members of the Quidditch team dejectedly departed from the scene, and I turned to follow.
"Just a moment, Miss Black." Professor McGonagall stopped me. "You, Potter and I will find Mr. Weasley. There's something the three of you have to see."
"What is it? Is something wrong?" I asked, alarmed.
Professor McGonagall looked around, as if she were checking for any eavesdroppers. "I wish not to divulge any more information in this area for two reasons: one, most likely because you, Potter, and Weasley would not believe me if I simply told you; therefore, it would be better to show you, and two, despite this area being deserted, this is still a public area, open to those who may decide to eavesdrop. Now, follow me, you two; we must find Mr. Weasley."
"Ron was up in the stands, last I checked," I suggested, trying to be helpful.
"Was." Harry pointed over to Ron, who was hurrying toward us.
"Harry, Y/N, what's going on? Why's your team not here? And"-he looked at Professor McGonagall-"no offense, Professor, but why are you here?"
"Mr. Weasley, how nice of you to drop in. We were just going to look for you."
"Something's happened to Hermione," Harry blurted before Professor McGonagall could. He looked at her. "Sorry."
Professor McGonagall's lips slightly twitched up in some sort of smile before she looked over at Ron. "Yes, as Mr. Potter so carefully put it, something has happened to Miss Granger."
"Is she okay? Is she hurt? Did Malfoy hurt her?" Ron threw out multiple questions.
Professor McGonagall didn't answer any of his questions; she just motioned for us to follow her and walked us into the hospital wing. "I warn you, this could be a wee bit of a shock," she warned.
A few moments later, we knew why. Hermione was lying Petrified on a hospital bed, her eyes open and glossy.
"Hermione..." Ron muttered, overcome with shock.
"Miss Black"-Professor McGonagall put a hand on my shoulder-"I know how hard this must be for you, but please, do try to keep your emotions in check."
'Wait... how did she...?'
I looked expectantly at her, asking her my unanswered question, but either she ignored it or didn't know what I was internally asking. She removed her hand from my shoulder.
"She was found near the library, along with this." She held up a small, circular mirror. "Does it mean anything to the three of you?"
"No, Professor," I answered, trying to calm down. She nodded as she set the mirror down, Harry and I reaching for Hermione's stiff hands.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Could I have your attention, please?" Professor McGonagall called. "Because of recent events, these new rules will be put into effect immediately. 'All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock every evening. All students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exceptions.'" She set the parchment aside as she looked at all of us. "I should tell you this: unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught, it is likely the school will be closed."
"Closed?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.
"They can't close Hogwarts," Ron said.
"They probably are, Ron, since Professor McGonagall just said that."
As I said that, an alarming thought flashed in my mind. If we weren't allowed back at Hogwarts, maybe Mr. Brunson would go back for Y/N. Maybe we'd never see each other again.
Suddenly, words flashed up in my mind:
Camera.
Scrapbook.
Y/N.
Mine.
I couldn't let that happen. Not when there was still so much work to be done.
"Harry? Hel-lo? Have you zoned out on us again?"
I was knocked out of my thoughts by Y/N snapping and waving her hand in front of my face. "Oh. I... sorry. What was that?"
"As I was saying," Y/N replied, looking from me to Ron, "we've got to go talk to Hagrid. I can't believe it's him, but if he did set the monster loose last time, he'll know how to get into the Chamber of Secrets, and that's a start."
"And if he didn't?" Ron prodded.
"That's a risk we're going to have to take-for Hogwarts' sake."
"All right, but you heard McGonagall-we're not allowed to leave the Tower except for class."
"Then," I said lowly, "I think it's time to get my dad's old Cloak out again."
"Brilliant!" Y/N said happily, shooting me a thumbs-up.
See what I mean? How could I let her slip away from me?
Exactly. I'm not.
Sooner or later, she will be mine.
She has no choice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Along with the other things I received from my father, I also got a long and silvery Invisibility Cloak. It was our only chance of sneaking out of the school to visit Hagrid without anyone knowing about it. We also agreed that Y/N should bring her dagger, in case we ran into anything. So, Ron and I went to bed at the usual time, waited until Neville, Dean, and Seamus had stopped discussing the Chamber of Secrets and finally fallen asleep, then got up, dressed again, met Y/N in the common room, and threw the Cloak over ourselves.
The journey through the dark and deserted castle corridors wasn't enjoyable. Y/N and I had wandered the castle at night several times before, but it'd never been this crowded. Usually, it was deserted. But this time, teachers, prefects, and ghosts were marching the corridors in pairs, staring around for any unusual activity. Our Invisibility Cloak didn't stop us making any noise, and there was a particularly tense moment when Y/N stubbed her toe only yards from the spot where Snape stood standing guard. Thankfully, Snape sneezed at almost exactly the moment she swore. It was with relief that we reached the oak front doors and eased them open.
It was a clear, starry night. We hurried toward the lit windows of Hagrid's house and pulled off the Cloak only when we were right outside his front door.
"All right, who's knocking?" Ron hissed.
"What?" I gave him a look. "Why does it matter who knocks?"
"Well, I don't want to be the one who knocks!"
"It's literally just knocking, Ron!"
"It's just embarrassing, all right?"
"Wha-why are we even arguing about this?" I snapped.
"Oh, okay, you dolts, I'll knock," Y/N interrupted, reaching up to knock.
Seconds after she had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. We found ourselves face-to-face with him aiming a crossbow at us, Fang the hoarhound barking loudly behind him.
"Oh," he said, lowering the weapon and staring at us. "What're you three doin' here?"
"What's that for?" Y/N asked, pointing at the crossbow as we stepped inside, not answering his question.
"Nothin'-nothin'-" Hagrid muttered. "I've bin expectin'-doesn' matter-Sit down-I'll make tea-"
He hardly seemed to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand.
"Hagrid, are you all right?" Y/N asked, reaching for his shoulder. "Did you hear about Hermione?"
"Oh, I heard you, all righ'," said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice.
He kept glancing nervously at the windows. He poured us large mugs of boiling water (he had forgotten to add tea bags) and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud knock on the door.
Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Y/N quickly threw the Invisibility Cloak back over ourselves and retreated into a corner. Hagrid checked that we were hidden, seized his crossbow, and flung open his door once more.
"Good evening, Hagrid."
It was Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore," Y/N muttered, raising an eyebrow. "What's he doing here?"
"I dunno." I shrugged.
Dumbledore entered, looking deadly serious, and was followed by a second, very odd-looking msn.
The stranger had rumpled gray hair and an anxious expression, and was wearing a strange mixture of clothes: a pinstriped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak, and pointed purple boots. Under his arm he carried a lime-green bowler.
"That's Dad's boss!" Ron breathed. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!"
Y/N elbowed Ron hard to make him shut up.
Hagrid had gone pale and sweaty. He dropped into one of his chairs and looked from Dumbledore to Cornelius Fudge.
"Bad business, Hagrid," said Fudge in rather clipped tones. "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."
"I never," said Hagrid, looking imploringly at Dumbledore. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir-"
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.
"Look, Albus," said Fudge, uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something-the school governors have been in touch-"
"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest," said Dumbledore. His blue eyes were full of a fire I had never seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view," said Fudge, fidgeting with his bowler. "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something,. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty-"
"Take me?" said Hagrid, who was trembling. "Take me where?"
"Nowhere good, by the sound of it," I whispered an answer.
"For a short stretch only," said Fudge, not meeting Hagrid's eyes. "Not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology-"
"Not Azkaban?" croaked Hagrid.
"Azkaban?" Y/N whispered to us. "Isn't that the-like-wizard prison or something?"
"That's exactly what it is," Ron whispered back, nodding. "But why are they taking Hagrid?"
Before anyone else could speak, there was another loud rap on the door.
Dumbledore answered it. It was Y/N's turn for an elbow in the ribs; she'd let out an audible damp.
Mr. Lucius Malfoy store into Hagrid's hut, swathed in a long black traveling cloak, smiling a cold and satisfied smile. Fang started to growl.
"Ugh, not Malfoy senior," I muttered. What was he doing here?
"Already here, Fudge," he said approvingly. "Good, good..."
"What're you doin' here?" said Hagrid furiously. "Get outta my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all being inside your-er-d'you call this a house?" said Lucius Malfoy, sneering as he looked around the small cabin. "I simply called at the school and was told that the headmaster was here."
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" said Dumbledore. He spoke politely, but the fire was still blazing in his blue eyes.
"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore," said Malfoy lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment, "but the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension-you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been in total? At this rate, we'll have no more Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."
Beside me, Y/N was muttering under her breath, "Shut up, he has to shut up."
"Oh, now, see here, Lucius," said Fudge, looking alarmed. "Dumbledore suspended-no, no-last thing we want just yet-"
"The appointment-or suspension-of the headmaster is a matter for the governors, Fudge," Malfoy said smoothly. "As headmaster, it happens to be Dumbledore's responsibility to stop further attacks or tragedies to happen here at Hogwarts. As he has failed to do so-"
"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them," said Fudge, whose upper lip was sweating now, "I mean to say, who can?"
"That remains to be seen," said Mr. Malfoy with a nasty smile. "But as all twelve of us have voted-"
Hagrid leapt to his feet, his shaggy black head grazing the ceiling.
"An' how many did yeh have her threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, Malfoy, eh?" he roared.
"Dear, dear, you know, that temper of yours will lead you into trouble one of these days, Hagrid," said Mr. Malfoy. "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."
"Yeh can' take Dumbledore!" yelled Hagrid, making Fang the hoarhound cower and whimper in his basket. "Take him away, an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"
"Calm yourself, Hagrid," said Dumbledore sharply. He looked at Lucius Malfoy. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside-"
"But-" stuttered Fudge.
"No!" growled Hagrid.
Dumbledore had not taken his bright blue eyes off Lucius Malfoy's cold gray ones.
"However," said Dumbledore, speaking very slowly and clearly so that none of us could miss a word, "you will find that I willingly truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
For a second, I was almost sure Dumbledore's eyes flickered toward the corner where Ron, Y/N and I were hidden.
"Admirable sentiments," sai Malfoy, bowing. "We shall all miss your-er-highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope that your successor will manage to prevent any-ah-killins."
"I swear to god, if this bitch doesn't shut the fuck up-" Y/N mumbled.
Mr. Malfoy strode to the cabin door, opened it, and bowed Dumbledore out. Fudge, fiddling with his bowler, waited for Hagrid to go ahead of him, but Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath, and said carefully, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'."
Fudge stared at him in amazement.
"All right, I'm comin'," said Hagrid, pulling on his moleskin overcoat. But as he was about to follow Fudge through the door, he stopped again and said loudly, "An' someone'll need ter feed Fang while I'm away."
The door banged shut and Ron pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.
"We're in trouble now," he said hoarsely. "No Dumbledore. They might as well close the school tonight. There'll be an attack a day with him gone."
Y/N started pacing the floor. "Follow the spiders, follow the spiders..." she muttered under her breath before turning to face us, her hands on her hips. "Do either of you know what he meant by 'follow the spiders'?" she asked us, looking from Ron to me.
"Nope."
"Nada."
The three of us looked worriedly toward Fang, who had started howling and scratching at the closed door, before looking back to each other.