Will You Ever Return to Me?

LunaIsCool

Story Summary:
AU from HBP. The war is a much bigger disaster, so is Harry's relationship with Ginny. When Voldemort is defeated, Harry returns home to find Ginny engaged to his worst enemy. Meanwhile, a new Dark Wizard plots in secret...

Chapter 16 - Episode 2--Chapter 6

Posted:
09/09/2008
Hits:
572


Chapter 6.

"But I thought Salem--"

"Oh, he didn't attend the school--I used to give private lessons to selected people."

Harry nodded. Clarence continued. "First, I must ask you: was Hund a Death Eater?"

"Likely, but I don't know for sure. I didn't see his mark. But where else would he have met Bellatrix?"
"He had mentioned to Ginevra that he had a girlfriend. Would he be referring to her?"

"I don't know. We didn't interact with each other for long."

"I understand. You see, Hund joining Voldemort makes no sense to me."

"Why not?"

"Hund usually uses aliases. He did when he came to me--that was before the map. He considers knowing his name a mark of honor--it's his way of telling the person about his his respect."

"An honor I could do without."

"He does respect something in you. And if I had to guess, it would be what he himself respects most. Your independence. Minerva always thought highly--"

"You knew McGonagall?" Harry suddenly asked.

Clarence laughed. "She was one of us. A Salem graduate. She married an Englishman in the late 30s and stayed there since... but we kept in touch. And Minerva had a lot of good things to say about you, Mr. Potter... it was one of the reasons I decided to let you in on the grounds. And she repeatedly mentioned your independence streak."

"So?"

"Above everything else, Hund respects independence. That's why I have trouble believing he'd join Voldemort."

"But he did. Or at least, he was in close enough contact to get friendly with Bellatrix in whatever scheme they hatched."

"All right. But as I said, Hund respects independence. That's why he never did well when it came to formal schooling. But when I taught him, without pressure of grades or schedules, simply because he was willing to learn, he was brilliant."

"Hund is not like Voldemort, Potter," Clarence said firmly. "He does not like direct confrontation much, although assuming that's because he's incompetent is a mistake. But he does prefer manipulation. He also likes to play with people's emotions--both positive and negative. And he likes surprises."

Harry breathed. Clarence, so far, summarized and confirmed his own guesses regarding Hund. "I got that impression during our lessons, and from what I've learned since then, he hasn't changed. But I have also learned that he has absolutely no scruples, is extremely cruel, and, unlike many wizards, doesn't hesitate to use resources of the Muggle world when it suits him.

"Be careful, Potter. If you ever encounter him, he's probably going to try and talk to you."

"I have nothing to say to him."

"He won't just fight you."

That was Lyman, who sat in silence the whole time. Harry even forgot he was there.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I tried to fight him. He always insisted on talking. I didn't want to, but he just kept Disapparating when I attacked him... letting me know he could kill me if he wanted. I gave up eventually."

"Why were you after him?"

Lyman put her head down. "I hoped you wouldn't ask that."

"I'm sorry--"

"It's all right. At the time, Hund was learning with Diana, we dated. Then, one night, he asked me to marry him."

"I don't know whether he really wanted to, or if that was one of his manipulations. He'd almost finished his Animagus training--"

"What was his form?" Harry asked Clarence.

"That's just it, I don't know. He left that night."

"I told him I wasn't ready to get married," Lyman said. "He didn't take it well. He accused me of cheating on him with my best friend Robert. He shouted at me and Disapparated. I thought he'd come back, apologize... but two days later, Robert was found poisoned in his house. Officially, the story is suicide--that's how it was reported everywhere. But I know Hund killed him."

Harry spent several moments thinking about the information. It was a lot more than he got so far, and while it didn't tell him where Hund might be, he felt nothing could do that. and he suddenly got an idea.

"Mrs... Ms..."

"You may call me Professor Clarence. I'm sure that's something you're used to," the Headmistress said.

"Professor... will you teach me? Among other things, I'd like to become an Animagus. I'm probably not ready to face Hund--"

"You underestimate yourself, Potter. But, still, there's no such thing as too much training. All right, Potter. I will... if you promise to consider what I told you about Ginevra. If I see you avoiding her on purpose, I will have to ask you to leave."

This was a strange request. "Why?" Harry asked.

"Because I expect my students to get over their pasts," she said. "I'll have quarters arranged for you. We'll need to do some cleaning. It's been a while since I had a male student."

"Who was the last one?" Harry asked, hoping the answer wasn't what he suspected.

"Quite perceptive, Potter. His name was Alan Hund."

Damn.

"I do hope that you turn out better than he did," Clarence said. "Good night, Mr. Potter."