Everyone Is a Suspect
As the snow slowly began to melt, signaling the end of the cold season and the start of Quidditch season, Harry was busier than ever. According to the Weasley twins, Wood had turned into a slightly unhinged fanatic. Even so, he seemed to appreciate that Harry was taking his Quidditch training seriously, especially if they managed to beat Hufflepuff in the next match. If they did, they would catch up to Slytherin and have a chance to compete for the Cup that year.
He really wanted to beat the snakes; especially to rub their defeat right in Malfoy's face. That victory would be truly glorious.
Meanwhile, Harry had left Percy as his substitute so he could help Hermione and Ron uncover the hidden villain. Since Neville wanted nothing to do with it and Grover was one of the suspects, it seemed Percy would be accompanied only by the two of them for the next few days.
The three of them were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, gathered around the table where the magical chess set rested after Hermione and Ron's match. Ron looked genuinely happy; after all, one of the few things he could actually beat Hermione at was chess.
And seeing Hermione's face after being defeated was always a little amusing.
Hermione watched her queen fall and frowned in irritation, unable to believe it. Ron's arrogant expression only made her annoyance worse.
Meanwhile, Percy wore a slightly bored expression as he watched them argue. Before Hermione could demand a rematch, he spoke.
"So," Percy said, looking at Hermione and Ron. "What's the plan? Follow Snape around the castle while we hide under Harry's invisibility cloak? A surprise attack on Snape? Or do we pretend we didn't see anything and go have fun exploring the castle?" he added, wearing an apparently innocent smile.
"Why only Snape? Isn't your friend Grover suspicious too?" Hermione asked, staring directly at Percy.
"Do you really think Grover, the guy we found talking to a squirrel a few days ago, could do something evil?" Percy replied immediately, defensively. After all, it had been thanks to Grover that he had reconciled with Harry. "It's not like he's shown anything truly suspicious. Well, okay, sneaking into the Forbidden Forest is suspicious; but if that's the case, shouldn't Ron's brothers be just as suspicious? As far as we know, they're frequent visitors too, right?" he added, pointing at Ron.
Ron lifted his head, confused. "Should we… put them on the suspect list?" he asked completely seriously.
"What? No! Grover is suspicious because he's new, remember? You said it yourselves; that thing about being careful with people who come from the United States," Hermione said quickly, making it clear that Percy had completely derailed the conversation.
"Yeah, well, we did say that; but now that you put it like that, it sounds a bit prejudiced," Percy commented.
Hermione looked clearly fed up as she rubbed her forehead. "Look, the point is simple. Grover doesn't seem like a bad guy, but that doesn't mean he isn't lying, right? You still don't know him completely. Why did he become your friend, specifically him, the only student from the United States, when they said that if someone came from that country it could be because of you? You. Your friend," Hermione said, making gestures as if trying to connect the dots for him.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Percy replied immediately, pulling a sour face. After all, he had accepted Grover as a friend far too easily. Thinking about it, that was strange for him too. Harry and Percy had always had trouble making friends; aside from being considered weirdos at school thanks to Dudley, they didn't really cling to other people beyond each other and their mother. Their circle had only grown later, with the arrival of Mor, Einjard, Adrien, and the others.
"So what do you think they might want with the Philosopher's Stone?" Percy asked, resigned.
"We still don't know. Professor Snape has been a teacher for many years. To be honest, I think he's the least likely one, because he'd be putting his entire career at risk," Hermione replied.
Percy frowned even more, annoyed that Snape was being considered less guilty than Grover. Ron also looked uncomfortable; after all, he truly hated Snape, and Hermione always seemed to believe that all teachers were saints. Seeing their expressions, Hermione noticed it too.
"Even so, it's an object that can make someone immortal and rich, so it's understandable why someone would want it. And we don't know why Grover would want it either," she added quickly.
"We don't have enough information to draw conclusions beyond simple guesses," she finished with a serious expression.
"So?" Percy and Ron asked at the same time.
"We need to find clues. Like Percy said, maybe we can follow one of them first. That way we'll know what they're doing and can figure out who the real suspect is. And if we're lucky, catch them red-handed," Hermione said, smiling as if her idea were brilliant.
"I guess it's not a bad idea," Ron said, nodding, since it made sense. "Though I really don't want to know what Snape does all the time," he added, imagining unpleasant things like bottled troll mucus or ripping out a spider's eyes. And, being a Potions professor, many of those images might not be that far from reality.
"Alright," Percy said, nodding. He thought it was the best way to clear Grover of suspicion. To find out what he was really hiding, and whether he truly was a spy sent by whoever was supposedly trying to capture Percy; something Percy himself didn't fully understand yet. Maybe Aunt Mor knew more than she let on. Even if that was the case, he could uncover something and stop being completely in the dark.
"Grover first," he added confidently.
At that moment, Harry walked into the common room, immediately drawing the attention of the three of them. He had just come back from training, and his expression was terrible, as if he had tasted the most bitter candy in the world.
"What's wrong with you?" Percy asked. "You look awful," he added bluntly.
Harry, who seemed genuinely upset, explained Snape's sudden, unsettling, and downright sinister interest in becoming the referee for the next Quidditch match.
"Don't play," Hermione said immediately, clearly worried.
"Tell them you're sick," Ron added right away.
"Pretend you broke your leg," Hermione followed up.
"Break your leg for real," Ron suggested.
"If you want, I can help break it, but it'll hurt… I think," Percy said with complete seriousness.
Harry looked at the three of them, especially his friends, from whom he hadn't expected such stupid ideas. Well, from Percy he had.
"I can't. There's no substitute Seeker," Harry said, letting out a sigh. "And if I don't play, Gryffindor can't play either."
Just then, a dull thud echoed from the entrance to the common room, like someone hitting the floor. The conversation stopped instantly, and everyone turned around.
Neville was there, having fallen just as he entered. His legs were stuck together by a jinx, which caused several students nearby to burst out laughing. Everyone did, except Percy and the others, who stood up immediately and rushed over.
Percy's expression was filled with fury. Hermione performed the counter-jinx while Percy helped Neville back to his feet.
"What happened?" Percy asked, his expression making it very clear that he was ready to beat someone up.
"I don't know. I didn't see them. Someone attacked me from behind, from a corner, and when I tried to turn around to see who it was, I fell," Neville said, shaking and exhausted. He looked like he had been hopping with his legs stuck together from very far away.
"Where?" Percy asked immediately, staring at him so intensely that Neville grew nervous under his gaze.
"O… outside the library," Neville replied.
Percy stood up, but before he could move, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Harry. When Percy turned around, Harry looked straight at him and shook his head.
"Even if you run there, you probably won't find anyone. It was obviously a cowardly attack, knowing you'd want revenge. They've already fled," Harry said.
His words were true. Neville was never bullied when Percy was nearby. They only dared when he wasn't, and this ambush made that painfully clear.
"We have to tell Professor McGonagall. This is serious," Hermione said immediately.
"No. I don't want to get into trouble. I didn't even see who it was," Neville said, shaking his head. He knew what it meant to involve a professor, especially without knowing exactly who was responsible. That would only cause trouble for the wrong people.
There was no need to say names. At Hogwarts, attacks like that always came from the same place.
Percy knew it too. Without proof, anything he did would only make him look guilty, and this time there would be no excuses to save him. He didn't know if Professor Dumbledore would be kind enough to forgive him again by merely forcing him to help a few teachers for a while.
Percy let out a sigh. He knew Neville was targeted because of how gentle and quiet he was. If he were more like Percy, more reckless and violent, no one would dare mess with him. After all, no one messed with Percy; not since the beating he had given Malfoy and his friends.
"You need to start standing up to them, Neville. Don't let them walk all over you," Percy said, trying to encourage him.
"That's easier said than done," Neville replied softly, shaking his head.
"Neville, you're worth more than you think. You just have to accept it," Harry said, stepping closer and handing him a Chocolate Frog to cheer him up.
Neville gave a small smile, grateful for the words, as he took the Chocolate Frog. Percy gave him a pat on the back, but his expression remained clearly upset.
And from what Harry knew of him, he would definitely get revenge for his friend.
And well, maybe Harry wasn't completely against that. After all, they were brothers for a reason, right?