The Attack of the Invisible Bumblebees
On Friday morning, some very important post arrived by owl.
Susan had received a letter from her aunt, which she showed Cedric immediately.
Dear Susan
Thank you for informing me of everything Harry Potter told you, I will look into it immediately. Myself and a few others will be visiting the school in a few weeks time to talk to Harry Potter in person to try and gather some more information.
I'm glad to hear you are finding friends from other houses, house unity is always a positive.
I hope you are keeping up with your studies,
Aunt Amelia
"That's good news, and great she took you seriously." Cedric murmured.
"Awww, we're friends now?" Susan jumped and spun around in her seat to see Harry standing behind her, a large grin on his face.
"Did you know he was there?" She demanded, glaring at Cedric across the table, who snickered.
"I love having friends!" Harry declared. "It's the best. And why does your Aunt want to speak with me?"
"You read the whole thing?" Susan asked.
"Sorry, Luna told me to, apparently it's crucial that I did." Harry shrugged.
"Okay. Well, my Aunt is Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which means she investigates and looks into the legitimacy of events. She also has lots of sway in the way trials run, has power to make quite big decisions alone. Oh, and has to fill out a ton of paperwork every single day."
"So she wants to see me why?"
"To talk to you about what happened in your first year."
"Oh my gosh, really? Do you think she'll want to hear about the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets too?" Harry asked cheerfully. Susan gasped, and several people around them dropped their forks.
"Definitely. Harry, what basilisk?" Susan asked, looking pale.
"Oh relax, it's dead." Harry said. "It can't hurt you!"
Susan looked a bit faint. "You know what? I'll write to my aunt, and ask her to come earlier."
"Thank you Susan, have 100 people points!"
"Thanks?"
"Your welcome!" Harry smiled and skipped off, his own mail to open.
The first one was from Sirius.
Harry,
It sounds like you are living up to the Marauder's legacy, I'm proud of you! Snape can't take points from Gryffindor? Ha! Serves him right for being a selfish, arrogant little dungeon bat. Tell Sprout happy birthday from me, she was always one of my favourite professors. (Don't actually, unless you're behaving insane enough no one will believe you)
Harry, Remus received a rather concerning letter from the dungeon bat about your childhood. He is currently in contact with a woman named Amelia Bones, who wishes to speak with you in a couple of weeks time. Please be completely honest with her and try and behave as not-insane as possible.
Keep me updated about the Tournament and let me know if you need any help.
Your favourite Dog,
Snuffles.
Harry grinned widely. "Professor Sprout?" He called out loudly. She looked up from her breakfast and gave him a questioning look. "A big black dog wishes you a happy birthday."
"You tell him thank you from me then." Sprout answered with a smile. She was quite fond of Harry.
Harry turned to Snape. "The big black dog also says Professor Snape is a selfish, arrogant dungeon bat."
"Listen here, Potter, you tell that filthy mutt-"
"Now now, Severus." Dumbledore said calmly. "Harry, if you would come to my office later on today, we need to have a chat." He wasn't concerned about other students hearing him, as they'd assume it was about Harry's recent behaviour. Which it was, partly.
"Okay!" Harry said brightly. "I look forward to our discussion about the big bad wolf."
His next letter was from Colin, and it contained several moving pictures of the chaos from the past few days, including the time he hung up several brightly coloured pairs of socks in the Charms classroom with Dobby.
"5 million points to Colin." He whispered.
"Harry! Too many!" Ginny scolded. He sighed sulkily.
"Fine, 5 million points away from Colin and add 500 points instead." He said grumpily. "Five points from Ginny for being boring."
The next letter looked very professional.
Dear Mr H. J. Potter,
We are writing to inform you that within the next few weeks you will be receiving a visit from three members of Magical Law Enforcement department and the Auror office to discuss some rumours circulating about your first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Your Head of House and the Headmaster have also been informed of this.
Best Wishes,
Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
The final letter was from Remus, who had been writing to Harry regularly since he had resigned.
Harry,
I'm sorry it's been a while since my last letter, my furry little problem (that is what your dad used to call it) was keeping me busy.
Are you okay? Do you have any idea who entered your name into the Goblet of Fire? Severus wrote to me also, I've written to Amelia Bones and she wants to speak with you.
I'll be coming to the castle to watch all of your tasks, so hopefully we can catch up properly then. I may bring my pet dog with me if we can import him back to this country.
All the best, please keep me updated,
Remus
"Hermione, could I pretty please borrow some parchment and a quill?" Harry asked sweetly. Hermione rolled her eyes and handed him three sheets of parchment and a self-inking quill. "Thanks Mione."
Harry wrote back to Colin first.
Colin,
Thank you for the pictures! I gave you 5 million people points, but Ginny told me off, so I gave you 500 instead. Find me in the common room later and I'll pay you as well.
Harry
Then Sirius.
Dear Snuffles,
Professor Sprout says thank you. Don't worry, I didn't say your name, just that big black dog wishes her a happy birthday. I told Snape what you called him as well, he got angry but Dumbledore stopped him from yelling at me. He did call you a filthy mutt though. Speaking of, the bumblebee wants to talk to me later. He didn't give me a time, so I'll go to his office around midnight. That should be late enough, don't you think?
Snape wrote to Moony about me? But therapy sessions are supposed to be confidential! I'm going to tell on him.
Don't worry, I'll be good for Madam Bones.
As for the tournament, if I'm being completely honest I haven't really thought about it.
One more thing - I had to stop McGonagall from being able to take points away from Slytherin too, just to be fair.
Love From Harry, your favourite human alive.
After an internal debate, Harry decided the letter from Amelia Bones didn't actually need a reply as it was just telling him what was going to happen and left no questions for him to answer, so he used the last piece of parchment for Remus instead.
Dear Moony,
I'm okay. If you ask anyone else they'll say I've gone a bit bonkers, which is completely true and somewhat purposeful. But I'm fine, so that is irrelevant.
It'll be nice to see you in person at the tasks, then we can have a proper talk. As for who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, I have no idea. Although I suspect Dumbledore, he loves putting me in dangerous situations.
Anywhoo, gotta run, Herbology starts soon.
Love from Harry.
Harry tied all three letters to Hedwig's foot and she gave him a friendly nip on the finger before taking off.
Harry was pulled out of Charms to speak with Dumbledore, much to his disappointment.
"But Minnie, I have to learn! Dumbledore is taking away from my important education time! What if I need the summoning spell in the first task?" Harry complained.
"I agree with you Mr Potter, it does seem foolish removing from lessons at such a crucial time. However, I must do as the Headmaster says."
To Harry's surprise, Professor McGonagall stayed with him when they reached the office, and Harry was even more surprised to see Snape in there too.
"Oh, hello." He said as he sat in one of the two empty seats before he was invited to.
"Harry, my boy!" Dumbledore said. "I presume you know why you're here."
"It's because of the Dementor isn't it?" Harry said, looking worried. "The one that told me your beard is fake. Don't worry Sir, I don't believe her!"
"Not quite Harry. Do you know why I received a letter from Amelia Bones claiming she needs to speak with you?"
"Yes." Harry said nodded. The three Professors waited, but Harry didn't elaborate.
"May I ask why she needs to speak with you?"
"Yes."
"Yes what?"
"Yes, you can ask."
Dumbledore sighed. "Why does she need to speak with you, Harry?"
"Because there's an infestation of bumblebees in the castle that keep lying to people. No one knows the truth except me, so she needs to speak to me so she can save everyone from the bumblebees."
"What bumblebees, Potter? I've seen no bumblebees." Minerva asked. She knew full well what he was talking about, but apparently Dumbledore hadn't caught on. The boy was good, Minerva had to give him that.
"They're invisible of course!" Harry said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you speak with Miss Bones, Harry." Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling.
Harry suddenly switched. Minerva and Severus watched in slight shock as the boy suddenly seem to lose that crazy sparkle in his eye, and gave the Headmaster a harsh glare.
"I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to stop me, Professor." Harry responded, voice dangerously calm. It was the most serious he had been in days, and it took both Minerva and Severus by surprise.
Dumbledore however looked unbothered.
"Harry-"
"If you prevent me from speaking with Madam Bones you are breaking the law." Harry said shortly. "And I will not hesitate to let the world know you're a law breaker." Suddenly, the seriousness that had overtaken Harry was gone, and the crazy spark ignited again. "One more thing - Professor Snape broke the confidentiality rules in our therapy session, he told Remus everything I said. I've taken away 200 people points, but I think you should give him detention."
Severus snarled and opened his mouth to yell at the insolent spawn of James Potter, but Harry had already skipped out of the office.
"Let him speak to her, Albus." Minerva said, growing quite tired of the old man's controlling behaviour, before also leaving the office.
"Dumbledore, you have to stop this madness." Snape said with sigh. "The boy has gone mental, you must fix it."
"He's been through a lot Severus, with his name coming out of the Goblet and the incidents from his first, second and third year. He was bound to snap at some point. Give him time, he'll come back to his senses." Dumbledore said calmly, although there a was a flicker of doubt in his mind. He was losing his grip on his chess pieces.
Severus snorted disbelievingly. "I highly doubt that." With one last glare at the Headmaster, he swept out of the office.