Chapter 8
“So how was your detention?” Ron asked as Alyssa; now donning a blue pin reading he/him on his chest, headed to Hermione’s side the next morning.
“Hardly detention, but we did have a good talk.” He responded. “We figured a few things out, and it definitely seems like while he’s going to be understandably harsh, it’s not going to be as bad for everyone. Potions is a subject where people can be hurt.”
“That makes sense, Nevil’s still in the Hospital wing.” Hermione nodded. “You didn’t come back to the dorms last night, I do hope you weren’t snooping around.”
“Oh no. Professor Snape said I could stay in the spare for the night. I got very emotional, and he wanted to make sure I was okay.” He clapped. “Harry. First of all, your going to see Hagrid for tea again today correct?”
“Yup. Me and Ron.”
“Alright, second, what are you looking at?”
“Something that caught my attention. Figured it might be related to what you’re looking into, might be worth asking Hagrid about.” He said, handing the clipping over to Alyssa. As he took it Harry ran the words through his head as they read it.
GRINGOTS BREACK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches still unknown.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched for had in fact been emptied the same day.
“But we’re not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if it if you know what’s good for you” said a Gringotts spokes goblin this afternoon.
“Huh.” He noted, giving a nod. “Do you mind if I hold onto this?”
“Of course not.”
“Well, it’s best that I tell you what I found out. Snape told the dark lord about a Prophecy and asked for Lily to be spared.”
“He’s a-“
“We are not doing this. He isn’t any more, and while he was at some point I do not want him to be hated for his past. He can grow, and he will. I’m not even talking about Silent Hill. He’s willing.” Alyssa shook his head.
“He made the choice to join them.”
“And to leave them, I’m not saying you ever have to like him, none of you do. Maybe it was wrong of me to bring up, but I do not think he’s the issue here. But I have a feeling it is faculty. I have reason to take issue with Quirrel at the moment.”
Harry sighed softly, then shook his head. “I won’t hold it against him, but… Why bring it up now?”
“I don’t think it was him. He agreed to gather what information he knows. I actually already have an extra credit opportunity, starting… Today in fact. Basically an extra double class.”
“And Quirrel?” Hermione glared slightly. “Because that seems like your jumping to conclusions as well.”
“I’m not going to go gunning for him, not without more to work off of. But at the moment I can fully tell you that the stutter is put on, and he is hiding what really happened in Egypt.”
“Really, that lame story?”
“It was a lie, and the garlic smell… The darkness and the dark things. Creatures that border on being others, but aren’t. The othered. Things like that tend to know me, and they don’t want me finding them.” Alyssa shook his head. “At the bare minimum I think he’s one of them.”
“A Death Eater?” Ron hissed quietly and Alyssa desperately shook his head.
“No. No. Sorry. That one is on me. Completely on me.” He cut the air in front of him. “No. A member of the Order.”
“The Order?”
“The cult that made me. He keeps giving me odd looks, both in class and in the halls, and I’ve heard him muttering under his breath about me.”
“You are the; self-admitted, bad kid. It’s probably that.”
“I’m his best student. Also I looked into it, the garlic thing is complete and utter bull shit. Just completely. That’s not a thing. It’s silver, even more so than werewolves. That’s why the reflection thing happens. It’s because old mirrors were baked with a thin layer of silver.” Alyssa sighed, sliding a book to Hermione as she went to protest. I’ve used those clear sticky marks to indicate the more important bits, but it’s not a bad read.”
“It’s been a week.”
“Exactly. I’m the person that is far into these things.” Alyssa shrugged. “I do have to return that by this time next week.”
“By the way Al, you must have been so excited about learning he had guilt over someone’s death.” Harry chuckled; Ron and Hermione giving him; then Alyssa, a look.
Both sets of eyes went wide as Alyssa summoned his large gray binder to his lap; though it was really only maybe half full at that point, flipping to the page, opening the rings and handing it over.
“A monster that is manifested by this kind of guilt is the Pyramid head. Executioners for the Order. He would have had a hard time there either way, but-“ He shook his head. “It’s just… Augh. I’ve already had to deal with one, and I can’t just let him go alone knowing he might have to face one, but at the same time he has to face Silent Hill himself.”
“Himself, not necessarily alone.” Hermione noted, scanning the page before handing it back.
“True, you get anything from Hagrid, Harry?” Alyssa asked, putting it back, closing the rings before vanishing the binder.
“There was something that he didn’t want to tell me about Snape. I can’t help but worry a bit about him you know?”
“Just so you know, it was James he was being mean to. Er… He was being mean to you because of James… Not that you actually look alike. We did talk about that, but there was a lot… Look. I know that Snape went through a lot because Remus and Sirius told me, and Remus was sure to be less biased. The three of them and Peter went too far when it came to Snape, but Snape wasn’t innocent.” Alissa finished their food. “Okay? Let’s not jump onto people. You can follow your line of questioning about Snape if you have to, I do not think it’s him. I’m going to keep on Quirrel.”
“And I’m staying out of it.” Hermione noted. “I don’t want any part of this conspiracy.”
“Alright. We know that Hagrid was at the bank the same day that we were, I think it would be good to ask him about this.”
“You think he took whatever was attempted to be stollen.” Alyssa hummed. “I’ve been having the same dream for a week now, but there is something new to it. A flash of red inside the mirror. Maybe you can bring that up.”
“Yeah, maybe Hagrid will know something about it!” Ron nodded eagerly.
“If you think something was put in a mirror then you should ask Professor Flitwick.” Hermione let out an exasperated sigh.
“Thought you were staying out of it.” Alyssa teased with a smirk.
“And I am. But honestly, I cant just sit here and watch you bumble around this ‘investigation’.” She huffed. “To put something in a mirror would be incredibly powerful charms work, perhaps a mixing of charms and transfiguration. Flitwick would probably be the best person to ask about in this case.”
“That’s a really good point. Thank you Hermione, I will-“ Alyssa ley out a few sounds as he scanned his time table. “Double spare Mondays, I can see if there is a class he has during one of those and sit in one day. I did always wonder how all our classes are with the same Professors, like realistically none of this works for everybody.”
“Probably best not to over think that part.” Hermione suggested and Alyssa shrugged.
“Did any of you visit Nevil by the way?”
“No,” Ron shook his head, and Harry dropped his.
“He’s alright, but he needs to rest.” Hermione nodded. “Why, were you planning on visiting?”
“I’m in charge of working with him on potions from here on in, I just wanted to let him know. And you know make sure he’s healing alright. Magic or no, those were bad.”
“Snape tell you that?” Ron scoffed. “Trying to get you to fail I bet.”
“Actually, I asked him to, and told him that I wouldn’t let Nevil touch anything, but simply work with him to get him more confident. That’s what he needs Ron, he’s a smart boy, he just second guesses himself too much.”
“That’s… Actually, rather kind of you.” Hermione seemed minnorly shocked.
“Thank you.” Alissa nodded, then stood. “I have an idea; I’ll see you three later.” Quickly he headed off, sitting with the twins and Lee.
“What’s with him?” Ron shook his head.
“Who knows sometimes.” Harry shook his head. “But I do think we should be somewhat careful of Snape.”
“Probably.”
“Alyssa doesn’t seem to think it’s anything.” Hermione glared. “And on that I am inclined to believe him.”
“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be at least a little careful.” Harry noted and Hermione nodded. “I trust Alyssa’s judgement but Hagrid knew something. And Alyssa did say to keep on it if I had to. For right now I feel like I should.”
“I guess.” Hermione didn’t seem convinced, and Harry suddenly felt a bit bad.
“Do you think I’m reaching?”
“Of course not, Alyssa even said he had been a dark wizard, he could still be one.” Ron glared.
“I doubt that Dumbledore would let him work here if he was a bad person.”
“Oh, do not say that one around Alyssa. I mean taking in what you know happened to me. We don’t trust him for these things. Ends justify the means type situation.”
“Right, he left you with- “Hermione fell silent. “I’m sorry. I just… I wasn’t thinking.”
“Don’t worry. It’s okay Hermione, no need to worry about that. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.” Harry nodded. “I’ll back off Snape a bit, but I’m still going to be a bit careful.”
“Of course.”
Heading to the dorm, Harry smiled as he started on the week’s homework. There wasn’t a lot that he needed to do; just some small papers to do, but Harry didn’t mind. This was a magical school, homework or not it was something special. Even the mundane classes weren’t that boring considering where they were.
“You’re doing homework?”
“It’s best to get it done while you can.” Harry nodded. “But yeah, I kept some of the shorter papers for the weekend.” Harry nodded as Ron headed up to him.
“Oh what, did Hermione tell you to?”
“No… Ron, what’s your problem?” Harry faltered. “Breakfast was one thing, but you’ve been sneering at her all day and that was… Unnecessary.”
“It’s just she acts like she’s above everything.” He crossed his arms. “Getting involved even after she said she wasn’t going to.”
“She just didn’t want us jumping to conclusions.” Harry scolded, shaking his head. “There is no need to be rude Ron.”
“Sure, but what do you think is going on?”
“I don’t know. Alyssa hasn’t shared whatever they got, but it’s still just the first week. Even what we have gathered is more than expected. We know that something red was taken from Gringotts, and that it’s being stored in some kind of a mirror.” Harry shook his head. “But that isn’t that much to go off, so we should let Alyssa handle things for the most part, and try not to get into too much trouble. Alright?”
“I guess.”
“We figure this out Ron. We have all year, we should do this properly.”