"We have to tell a teacher." Hermione stated.
"I agree," said Susan.
Harry met the eyes of all the study group and Aaron. Itwas a clear and that the group agreed on that decision was in all their eyes."Who?" Unlike his friends Harry didn't have blind faith in theauthorities at school.
"All of them," said Padma.
"Okay, when?" Harry's question was immediate.
"As soon as we arrive. Harry you should be thespokesperson. You started the investigation." Hermione stated.
"No, Neville or you be the spokes person."
Neville nodded, while Hermione blurted, "Butwhy?"
Susan proved her more political upbringing by stating."Because he's Slytherin. The Headmaster and the Deputy are bothGryffindors. Wrong though it is, they allow more prejudice than is proper atHogwarts. We can't risk being discounted because Harry masterminded this. Ourage already works against us. Harry, I'll write down everything we've found andsend it off to my Aunt Amelia. Even if the teachers discount us, she won't. Itold her about the attacks and she is very concerned, but doesn't feel that shehas enough evidence of danger or political clout at this time to dispute theHeadmaster's actions. She is working on it though."
Tracey and Daphne nodded as did Aaron.
"Okay, we have a plan. So how was everyone'sholiday?"
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was conducted in thefashion one would expect of twelve to thirteen year olds. Some left theovercrowded compartment to join other friends. The rest spent the time checkingeach other's homework, chatting about unimportant things, giggling and playinggames.
....
Remus Lupin felt unsure of the coming term. He also feltunsure about Albus Dumbledore. Years ago, if asked, he would have had no troubleresponding that Albus was a great man and a formidable wizard. Now deep in hisheart there was a question if Albus was truly as great as Remus had alwaysthought him, or was he trying to maneuver Remus like a chess piece. The bequestfrom James could have brought him a lot of comfort over the years, but Albushad blocked the will. Remus had taken the bequest and bought the first newrobes he had had since his graduation from Hogwarts. The rest he put away intoa Gringotts vault, earmarked for wolfsbane once his contract as a teacher ranout. Then there was the fact that it wasn't the Headmaster who had seen to itthat Sirius got a trial, no it had been Harry. Remus also couldn't help butremember that it had been the Headmaster who had discouraged him for being incontact with the only offspring of his pack claiming it was safer for Harry ifthere was no contact. Now Remus was left wondering who had benefitted the mostfrom that arrangement.
He had long ago resigned himself to the reality thatalthough he was strong both as a wizard and because of his wolf, he was noAlpha. James had been the alpha of their pack, with Sirius as his beta. Remusand Peter had taken turns being the Omega, mostly due to Remus' own nonassertive nature and Peter's sheer lack of power and knowledge. With James'death and Sirius' imprisonment, he had fled in true omega fashion, and had doneprecisely as the Headmaster had wished. He stayed away until called for. LeavingRemus wondering why, and wondering what had been the cost to his pack's cub,because it was hard to see the lionhearted baby and toddler of his memories asthe calculating and cool-headed snake Albus described.
He stroked the fine heather brown wool of his lapel andchecked his appearance in the mirror before taking a deep breath and headingdown to dinner in the Great Hall. Hopefully Harry would forgive him and theycould go forward and eventually have a good relationship. He wished that mostof all.
....
Serverus Snape rose from where he had knelt to talk toNarcissa. He wondered what he would do. He damned Lockhart for a millionth timeand wondered how it was that the bastard hadn't been caught before he came toHogwarts. Sexual deviancy towards children was almost unheard of as was rape inthe magical world. Sex magic being some of the most powerful and sacred magic;the idea of raping a fellow magical was taboo even in death eater circles.Although almost all young people were sexually active from an early age, magicin general precluded forced sex. Even muggleborn magicals were afforded theprotection, sadly the same couldn't be said for muggle victims. Because victimsof rape were so rare in the magical world, due to the fact that mostindividual's magic could, would, and did defend them from it; that mind healersdidn't have any idea of how to help them. Most committed suicide either toescape the mental and emotional trauma of the attack itself or to escape thestigma of having been attacked. Which was what had lead to the current dilemma:Draco, although not fully raped, had come close enough that he was traumatized.
Contrary to the healer's assurances that he would be finefollowing the attack, according to his mother he was a nervous wreck. He havingnightmares and refusing to sleep unless one of his parents was in the room, andhe was jumping at everything. Draco also was refusing to eat and drink unlessone of his parents tasted from his plate first because Lockhart had apparentlyfed him something that had interfered with his magic. Narcissa had beggedSeverus to help his godson and basically gave him carte blanche to do whateverhe saw fit to do so that Draco could move on from the attack. Severus was at abit of a loss however, because he knew that to make the attack public knowledgewould forever destroy Draco's ability to carry influence, if not destroy the boyhimself.
Serverus made some decisions. One boy already knew of theattack, and as muggle raised he wouldn't have the same prejudices about it thatthe other Slytherins would have. Severus changed Draco's and Blaise Zabini'srooming assignments. It was the only way he could think of to begin to solvethis dilemma. He knew this wasn't going to be a popular decision with the boysinvolved, both boys having been antagonists last year. But hopefully sincePotter had rescued Draco from Lockhart, Draco would feel safe enough in theother boy's presence to sleep. He flooed up to the infirmary to speak withMadame Pomfrey about putting Draco on controlled doses of Dreamless sleep so hewouldn't lose his ability to function due to lack of sleep, and about whichversion of calming draught would be most efficacious in this situation to quellDraco's anxiety. Other than that, he was unsure of what to do. He would teachhis godson every spell he knew to detect tainted food and hopefully that wouldallow Draco to move forward.
....
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