Chapter 11
Colin knew he wasn't supposed to be out of bed, given it was past curfew, but he had to tell Harrison who had cursed the Bludger. Luckily, Mrs. Norris wasn't around to stop him, so he managed to reach the floor the hospital wing was on without getting caught.
Then he heard a noise. Colin remembered hearing something similar when he went to the zoo with his dad and half-brother -- except it was much louder.
Excited and nervous, Colin pulled out his camera. This snake was obviously bigger than the anaconda at the zoo, and he wanted a picture.
By the time lunch rolled around, the entire school knew who had cursed the Bludger, and that Colin Creevey had been Petrified. Very few people believed that Harrison was the heir, now, given how close Colin had been to him, but that didn't stop Harrison from looking murderous behind his usual blank mask.
The three boys that had nearly killed Harrison were instantly expelled -- which was lucky for them, as Harley was hungry for revenge. Draco and Ron didn't know why he still wanted revenge, given Harrison was completely fine and had even been faking magical exhaustion.
Hermione, who had been a bit closer with Colin than the rest of them, was distraught and outraged. She wanted to strangle Dumbledore with his own beard and then light his blinding robes on fire. Knowing the outcome of that stupid idea, she put even more effort into finding the diary.
"Harrison, I want to borrow your Cloak and search the second- and third-year girls' dormitories in Hufflepuff," she said stiffly a few days after Colin had been Petrified.
Harrison's quill paused a few inches from his essay. He eyed her with a thoughtful look. "That might actually work." He tapped his chin with the quill. "Neville, would you let Hermione into your common room on Saturday? Most Hufflepuffs will be out."
"Yes, Harrison," Neville agreed.
Hermione groaned. "I don't want to wait until the weekend! I've done all my schoolwork; if I don't do something I'll-"
"Potter-Black," said a voice, and the group turned to see Theodore Nott approaching. Crabbe and Goyle were waiting at the entrance to the library, looking bored.
"Nott," Harrison returned, setting down his quill. "What is it?"
"Lockhart decided to start a Dueling Club," Nott replied bluntly. Ron, Harley, and Draco groaned in unison. "Professor Snape is his 'assistant.'"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I bet Uncle Severus loves being called 'Lockhart's assistant.'"
Harley and Ron snorted.
"Thank you, Nott," Harrison said calmly. "Is the club required?"
"I don't think so," Nott said slowly. "But a lot of the first years want to go."
"I'm not in charge of the first years, Nott. That's something you should tell the Farley twins."
Nott blinked. "I did. They want to know what you would do."
Harrison's expression was still blank, but Blaise could see the surprise in the boy's green eyes. "Anyone younger than fourteen who wants to go needs at least one older student to accompany them," Harrison said finally. "If you can persuade them not to go, that would be better, but some students are rather stubborn."
"I'll tell that to the Weasley twins, too," Nott decided, "so they can 'suggest' it to the Prefects."
Harrison studied Nott as he headed back over to Crabbe and Goyle. "Draco, what do you know of Heir Nott?"
Draco started, then said, "He grew up with his grandfather, as his mother is dead and his father is in Azkaban for being a Death Eater. He's quiet and watchful, and likes books just as much as Hermione."
"Thinking of 'befriending' Nott?" Blaise asked Harrison.
"Hmm."
At that moment, Hedwig came soaring into the library, carrying a small package. Max Trelawny-White cleared his throat.
"I'll take her out, sir," Harrison said, as Hedwig deposited the package in front of him and perched on his shoulder. "Come on, to the hospital wing."
"What, why?" Ron asked curiously as the six of them followed Harrison out of the library.
"I owl-ordered a Mandrake Restorative potion. There's only enough for one person."
Hermione swatted him. "You let me panic about Colin when you already ordered an antidote?!"
Harrison laughed, earning startled looks from a passing group of Ravenclaws. "Sorry, Hermione."
"You ordered a Mandrake Restorative Draught?" Madam Pomfrey said in surprise when Harrison handed it to her. Andromeda Tonks smiled slightly, and May Weeks grew teary-eyed.
"Well, of course," Harrison said. "Why haven't you used the school finances to order two, anyway? That's what it's for."
"It's very expensive, Mr. Potter-Black," Tonks replied.
Harrison frowned. "Well, I'm not ordering one for Montague. He wasn't very nice to Harley and I last year."
Madam Pomfrey sighed, then headed over to one of the closed-off beds with the package.
Draco cleared his throat. "Er, hello, Aunt Andromeda."
A full smile appeared on Tonks' face. "Draco, isn't it? Cissa's boy?"
Weeks slipped away quietly as Draco responded in a warmer tone. "Yeah. She told me about you, when Dad wasn't listening, at least."
The woman snorted. "Yes, Lucius never cared for me much."
"She said you married a Muggleborn?" said Draco.
"Yes," Tonks agreed. "I know Mr. Harrison Potter-Black. Who are your other friends?"
"Ronald Weasley, Harley Potter-Black, Blaise Zabini, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom," Draco answered, pointing to each of them.
"You two are being raised by my cousin, Sirius," Tonks mused as she studied Harrison and Harley. Harrison dipped his head. "I do hope that husband of his is keeping him from doing something stupid."
Harrison snorted, earning snickers from Blaise, Draco, and Harley. "You obviously haven't sat in on one of his classes. He teaches with all the drama of a gay Black."
Andromeda laughed. "Ah, yes. I remember Sirius' dramatics all too well."
There was a soft gasp from the bed, and Colin stumbled out, looking pale but delighted.
"Mr. Creevey, get back in your bed this instant!"
"No," Colin insisted, jumping into Harrison's arms instead. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, Colin," Harrison said back quietly, looking down at the boy fondly. "Now get back in bed, brat."
Colin pouted but obeyed. "Where's my camera?" he asked Madam Pomfrey when he climbed in.
"I've had it mended," Andromeda responded, pointing at the bedside table. "The picture you tried to take of whatever attacked you was destroyed, however."
"That's okay, I know what it looks like!" Colin bounced in bed. "It's a giant snake! He has pretty eyes."
Harley choked back a laugh, looking a mixture of indignant and amused. The adults all looked horrified, which made Harrison's other friends quickly adopt alarmed looks as well.
"They're the same color as Harrison's and Harley's, actually," Colin mused. "I don't think he wanted to hurt me, he could have stabbed me with one of his giant fangs instead."
"My eyes aren't pretty," Harley protested, while Weeks leaned against the wall, looking pale.
"That's what you took from this conversation?" Ron demanded. Neville started to giggle hysterically.
"That's enough," Madam Pomfrey decided, shooing Harrison and his friends out of the hospital wing. "Mr. Creevey needs food and rest."
"We need to talk to Colin before he can tell the school about Tenebris," Harrison said quietly to Blaise. "Wait here as often as you can, and bring Colin to me when he's discharged."
Blaise immediately disappeared into the shadows, making Ron, Draco, and Neville jump. Fred and George replaced him just as swiftly, causing Draco to trip.
"What is it with you three and giving me a heart attack?" Draco complained.
Fred and George snickered. "We'd apologize-"
"-but we're not sorry," George finished. "Harrikins, we're going to the Dueling Club."
"To cause chaos or to keep an eye on Lockhart?" Harrison asked with a sigh.
"Yes," said Fred.
"Report back when it's over."
The twins disappeared again, and Draco almost knocked over Neville and Ron. "I'm going to hex them!"