Martyr

MARTYR - CHAPTER 2
TENSIONS RISE

 

"There's a spy at Hogwarts."

Harry's statement faded into the stone corridors with a finality that brought a depressive gloom over them all.

"How long has the spy been here? And who is it?" Hermione asked shakily.

"How should we know, Herm!? Does it look like we're all powerful?" snapped Ron angrily.

Hermione was shocked, it wasn't like Ron to react so enraged.

"They were rhetorical questions Ron," Harry said shortly, still staring at the floor, "but how did you know how to open the door Herm?"

Hermione shifted from one foot to the other, clasping her hands and looking embarrassed.

"Well, I, um... once I heard we were staying here with you I looked into secret passages. I found something like that door in Secret Passages and Compartments: A Student's Guide. It was just a matter of hitting the right bricks in the right sequence," she mumbled.

Harry grinned but Ron looked murderous. His fingers wrapped around his right forearm and his face coloured.

"Didn't take you long did it? Maybe you knew the combination already? How do we know you aren't in league with the spy!?" Ron exploded.

Harry's jaw dropped and he stepped back from Ron, too shocked to react when Hermione stepped forward and slapped Ron in the face.

"How do we know you aren't in league with the spy? Honestly, Ron, I can appreciate that your scared and afraid, but accusing one of your best friends isn't exactly rational behaviour," Hermione stated coldly before turning and walking off down the corridor.

Harry looked after her and shut his mouth turning back to Ron, with angry fire in his green eyes. Ron held one hand to his face where a red hand mark was beginning to show.

"I knew it! She's hiding...," Ron's face turned from one of success to devastation, "Oh, gods, what have I done? Harry? No, what have I done?"

Falling to his knees Ron looked terrible. Guilt wracked his body for what he had just done as the full impact fell on his shoulders.

"Harry, tell her I'm sorry," Ron whispered, desperately looking into Harry's eyes. His pleading was met with a stony glare.

"Tell her yourself," Harry spat shortly and turned his back on Ron, running down the corridor after Hermione.

When Ron entered the common room where Harry and Hermione were playing Exploding Snap a chill fell over the room and its occupants. Looking up from the game, Hermione's face showed a suppressed anger, directed totally at Ron. Feeling her gaze he walked over to them, his head hung in shame.

"Herm, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, please, please forgive me," he muttered, looking pleadingly into her eyes. Hermione's face softened and when she spoke it was in a soft tone.

"We were all afraid, I forgive you because you were trying to protect Harry...but if you ever accuse me again of being in league with You-Know-Who, I will force feed you poison."

Ron grinned shyly before sitting down at the table.

"We really should tell Professor Dumbledore about the spy, though," Harry said, changing the subject.

"What for? We can't identify the spy and Dumbledore surely knows someone here is a spy if they've been here a while," Hermione stated in a matter of fact voice.

Harry looked at her, puzzled. Both his friends were acting strangely. First Ron accuses Hermione of being in league with Voldemort and now, Hermione doesn't want to tell the headmaster about a danger to the entire school population.

"Herm," Harry's voice came out more reproving than he intended, "what if the spy is a new teacher? We should tell Dumbledore just to make sure he does know, there may be a risk to all the students when they get here,"

Ron nodded as if the matter was decided.

"You should go now Harry, he trusts you more than anyone else and won't expect you to make it up,"

There he goes again Harry thought.

"Professor Dumbledore trusts all of us, Ron. But I'll go now," Harry sighed, rising and leaving through the portrait.

Left alone with someone he had accused of being evil a few hours before, Ron mumbled an excuse and went up to his room. Pulling back the curtains, Ron flopped onto the bed, his fingers wrapped around his forearm.

Pulling back his sleeve, Ron looked distantly at the picture of a snake writhing its way around his arm, forming a type of bracelet. The mark had appeared shortly after he had arrived at Hogwarts, but he hadn't told anyone about it. Ron was worried about it, why did it throb this afternoon when he accused Hermione? His mind was in turmoil, was he going mad? Irrational feelings kept forcing themselves up into his mind where he had no choice but to act on them. Why? Ron thought desperately.

Harry trudged along the corridors towards the stone gargoyle, recent events playing heavily on his mind. Why were his friends acting different? Harry's mood sunk deeper into gloom as he rounded a corner, walking headlong into a tall wizard.

"Watch where you're going, Potter."

The sarcasm in the voice chilled Harry's blood and he looked up into the sallow face and beetle black eyes of Professor Snape.

"Uh, sorry Professor," Harry stammered, backing away. To Harry's surprise Snape actually didn't look annoyed.

"Why are you here?" he asked in a soft voice.

Harry was stumped by the question. Not only were Ron and Hermione acting strange, Professor Snape was as well!

"I, um... was on my way to see Professor Dumbledore, there's something he should know," Harry said before he realised what he was saying.

Snape's expression darkened.

"Does it have to do with anything you have overheard lately?" he asked as innocently as Professor Snape can. Harry blinked in surprise.

"How do you...," Harry said before catching himself. If Snape knew about that, he must be the spy! Harry thought. Ah yes, but Dumbledore trusts him, you saw that last year said another voice in Harry's mind.

Snape smiled sickly.

"Trust me, Potter. Professor Dumbledore already knows about the spy, what he is trying to find out though, is who it is?"

Snape ended his sentence by raising his eyebrows at Harry, clearly saying that if Harry knew he should tell him.

"Oh, that's alright then," Harry said quickly and turned around. He moved quickly away from the corridor and Snape before heading back to the Gryffindor tower.

Snape stood and thought for a moment before sweeping back down the corridor he had came, heading towards the Headmaster's Office.

"So Snape told you Dumbledore already knew? Snape? And you believed him?" Ron screeched once Harry returned and told his story.

"What was I supposed to do? Say, 'Oh alright, but I think you're the spy, so I'll go make sure Professor Dumbledore knows what a slimy git you are?'" Harry retorted impatiently.

"Well, I think you should go later and make sure Dumbledore knows. After all, if Snape is the spy, then him saying Dumbledore knows isn't very encouraging. And how else would he know you overheard it?" Hermione stated coolly.

"I'm not so sure, Herm. We know Snape is good at jumping to correct conclusions, remember first year when he suspected Quirrell all along, but we thought it was him? And Dumbledore personally trusts him because of something he did in the last war against Voldemort," Harry replied thoughtfully.

"You're right Harry, I do trust him,"

Professor Dumbledore's voice cut into their conversation and they turned quickly, shock written all over their faces. Dumbledore and Snape were standing in the common room, the portrait door swinging shut behind them.

Smiling Dumbledore quickly walked towards them, a typically sour Snape following behind more sedately, looking around in disgust at the room.

"Tell me what you know," Dumbledore said shortly, looking at them expectantly.

Harry gloomily told both Professors what they had overheard, leaving out nothing. At the end of his story, Harry noticed Dumbledore's eyes flick towards Snape. Black met blue as the pair exchanged meaningful glances.

"I'm afraid, that in light of what has happened, you three will not be allowed to roam the school alone anymore. There is no way of knowing who the spy is and what they plan to do," Dumbledore sighed.

Ron grabbed his forearm reflexively and looked around guiltily to see whether anyone had noticed. When his eyes met Snape's he was shocked to see the look on Snape's face. One of curiosity and puzzlement. Ron gulped and looked away quickly.

"Harry, I urge you not to try and sneak out anyway, even if no one sees you," Dumbledore continued, looking pointedly at Harry.

With a nod Harry showed he had understood. Dumbledore didn't want him using the Invisibility Cloak either.

"Of course, once term starts you will be free to move around as you wish. Now, I think you should all come down to the Great Hall for dinner," Dumbledore finished brightly and stood.

The group walked silently out of the common room and down to the Great Hall.

The three friends sat along the edge of the long wooden table they used for meals. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall and Sprout were usual occupants of the same table but tonight there were two new faces at the meal.

"Ah, Natasha and Balram, these are three of your students: Harry, Ron and Hermione," Dumbledore said, pointing to each of them in turn, "Professors Natasha Hawkins and Balram Samudra will teach you Potions and Care of Magical Creatures, respectively."

"What about Hagrid?" Harry asked promptly.

"Ah yes, Hagrid is still travelling on my behalf," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.

Professor Hawkins was a slim, beautiful witch with blonde hair and deep blue eyes. She smiled at them briefly as she was introduced and Hermione saw Ron stiffen beside her. A sharp elbow in his ribs stopped further star-struck ogling as the look of disgust on Professor Samudra's face threatened Snape's position in the 'most frightening glare' contest.

He was a grim faced Indian with plain white robes and a turban wrapped around his head. A wiry black moustache and fierce black eyes made Harry immediately wary of him as food appeared in front of them.

"Who's teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts then?" Hermione asked, looking at Dumbledore.

The response shocked the three students: Professor Snape actually smiled. Not just his normal sarcastic smirk, but a full grin that lit up his face.

"I am," he said calmly. The result of his simple statement was terrible. Ron fell off his chair while Hermione gasped, clapping her hand over her mouth. Harry just stared at Snape, a resigned but grim expression on his face.

"Don't look like that, I will try to be a good teacher," Snape said idly.

"Alright, who are you and what have you done with Professor Snape?" Ron spluttered, resuming his seat.

Professor Hawkins laughed, a bright clear sound that brought smiles to the faces of Dumbledore, McGonagall and Sprout. Snape looked blank while Samudra looked fit to burst.

"I don't know what they let you get away with in this place, but I'll tell you now, any comments or behaviour like that in my class and you will have detention for a month!" he roared.

Silence fell on the table with a metaphorical crash and Harry looked to Dumbledore. Lines of worry were etched over his face and when he spoke it was in a concerned tone.

"Balram, you will find there are students that are much more easy going than Mr. Weasley here. I'm afraid if you have so little tolerance for a bit of light humour you will find it hard to teach here."

Professor Samudra sat, silently seething and glaring at Ron and Dumbledore alternatively for the rest of the meal. Harry was shocked, not even Snape was that viscous, especially as he seemed to have adopted a rather liberal outlook on life and teaching over the holidays.

In contrast, Professor Hawkins was brilliantly outgoing, asking each of them questions and involving everyone but Samudra in a lively conversation.

Ron occasionally missed remarks directed at him and was developing bruising in his ribs where Hermione kept nudging him to stop him drooling over Professor Hawkins.

* * * * *

Harry woke with a start. It was still dark outside and his clock showed that it was a little past two in the morning. He lay there thinking over the previous day and tried to pinpoint what had woken him up. Several minutes of silence followed and Harry sat up sleepily, looking across to Ron's bed. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed the bed was empty.

Where's Ron? Harry thought.

Reaching for his glasses, he put them on and looked again, making sure it wasn't just his shoddy eyesight. Harry stood quickly and left the room after not seeing Ron in his bed, quietly walking down the stairs to the common room. The light was off in the toilets so Harry looked around the common room.

Deciding against leaving the common room without his wand, Harry ran back up the stairs to his room. Looking towards the table beside his bed Harry stopped in shock. I know I put it there last night! Harry thought desperately, walking over to the table. Then another thought hit him.

When did I last have it?

With a jolt, Harry realised he hadn't seen his wand since they opened the secret door and heard the spy talking with Voldemort. How did I miss it? Harry raged in his mind.

Storming back out his room he ran down the stairs to the common room. It was then that the portrait swung open and Professor Hawkins stepped through.

"Harry?" she called kindly. Harry's eyes met hers and his brow creased. She was dressed in a nightgown and her wand was at her side.

"Harry, you'd better come with me," she said softly and beckoned Harry to follow her out the portrait.

"Where're we going?" Harry asked puzzled. Professor Hawkins stopped and looked into his eyes.

"When was the last time you had your wand?" she asked, her blue eyes shining with concern.

"Had did you know my wand is gone? I only just found out!" Harry exclaimed. Hawkins bowed her head.

"I think Professor Dumbledore is the best one to explain this," she said and continued down the corridor without looking at Harry.

Harry bit back further questions and followed behind her as she walked the corridors towards Dumbledore's office.

Harry and Professor Hawkins stopped next to the stone gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office after a dreary walk through the corridors of Hogwarts.

"Every Flavour Beans," Hawkins said in a clear voice. In response the gargoyle leapt aside and the door to the office was revealed. Shaking his head in mirth at Dumbledore's choice of password, Harry followed Hawkins into the office.

"Professor Dumbledore, I've brought Harry," Hawkins said without preamble. Dumbledore looked up from a silver bowl that Harry recognised as the Pensieve with a grave expression.

"Thank you Natasha, you may leave him hear with me," Dumbledore said wearily. Professor Hawkins nodded her blonde head curtly and exited the room, glancing back with concern at Harry.

"Have a seat Harry," Dumbledore said, moving the Pensieve to one side. Folding his hands in front of him, Dumbledore continued to look at Harry while he took a seat.

"Sir, what's this about? Why did Professor Hawkins ask about my wand?" Harry asked nervously.

"Your wand was found by Mr. Weasley, who was out of bed and is now with Professor McGonagall. As I understand it Miss Granger was also out of bed and is with them as well. The problem is that Mr. Filch was found lying outside the castle, near the Care of Magical Creatures fields. Professor Snape was alerted to the body by the miaowing of Mrs. Norris when he was walking from to his office. Apparently Mrs. Norris was making quite a racket." Dumbledore spoke gravely, as if the world was threatened.

"But what's that got to do with my wand?" Harry asked fearful of the answer.

"Ron said that he found your wand on the ground in the Great Hall, the problem is that when Mr. Filch was found, all wands in the castle were subjected to Priori Incantatum. Your wand was used to kill Mr. Filch."

Harry's jaw dropped and his eyes grew wide.

"But, but... I was in Gryffindor Tower, Professor Hawkins found me there," Harry stammered nervously.

Dumbledore smiled briefly before answering.

"We know you are not to blame. However, the same cannot be said about your friends. I believe that neither of them was responsible, but that doesn't change the fact that they were both out of the Tower on the night of Mr. Filch's death. When the Daily Prophet gets hold of this there will be suspicion on both your friends."

Harry sat, too stunned to answer while Dumbledore sighed with resignation. After a few moments Harry found his voice.

"Who else was out around the castle tonight?" Harry asked.

"Professors Snape, Hawkins, Samudra and myself. Harry, I ask you not to read into this incident. In previous years you have always been in the thick of things. I don't want you to be this year; the danger is too great with the return of Voldemort. Do not go looking for the spy..." Dumbledore said. His voice was full of earnest concern, so much that Harry found himself nodding without even thinking about doing so.

At that moment Professor McGonagall entered the room, Ron and Hermione following meekly.

"Professor Dumbledore, I have reprimanded both of them and brought them to you, if you want to ask them any questions," she said grimly before turning and sweeping out the room.

Ron and Hermione moved slowly to take seats on either side of Harry, not looking at him or Dumbledore.

"Here's your wand," Ron mumbled and held the slim piece of wood out to Harry.

"Thanks," Harry said shortly and took it.

"Do either of you have anything further to add?" Dumbledore asked mildly, looking at both the new arrivals. They mutely shook their heads and Dumbledore smiled sadly.

"Then I suggest you all go back to your rooms," he said, yawning.

Harry and Ron said goodnight to Hermione in the common room again before trudging back upstairs to their room. Upon entering, Harry placed his wand on the table beside his bed along with his glasses and got into bed.

"So, why were you out of bed?" Harry asked casually. Silence met his question for a few moments before Ron answered.

"I was coming out of the toilets when I saw the portrait swinging back into place. Thinking you were going out without me, I followed. I couldn't really see who I was following, that's why I assumed it was you. And then when I found your wand in the Great Hall I figured you'd dropped it. Snape caught me there when he came back in with Filch's body. I was taken to McGonagall and was surprised to see Hermione there too. I suppose it must have been her that I followed, not you. She told us about Filch and asked for our wands. I handed over yours as well when she asked me about it. When she did Priori Incantatum a green light flashed from your wand, it was used to kill Filch."

Harry thought for a moment before rolling onto his side.

* * * * *

When Harry came down to the Great Hall the next morning, Hermione was sitting there already, dark circles under her eyes.

"Hi, Herm," Harry said brightly and plonked himself down next to her. She looked across at him with a tired expression.

"What gives you the right to be so chirpy?" she snapped.

"Nothing. Why were you out of bed last night Herm?" Harry asked with curiosity.

Hermione sighed and her brow creased.

"I was coming out of the toilets when I saw the portrait closing. I thought you were going out without me, so I followed. I couldn't really see whether it was you I was following, and that's why I assumed it was you, I couldn't see. I followed the sound of the footsteps to the Great Hall and that was where Professor Hawkins found me. I was taken to McGonagall and was surprised to see Ron there too. I suppose it must have been him that I followed, not you. She told us about Filch and asked for our wands. Ron had yours for some reason and I didn't get to ask him about it. Strange really, because when she did Priori

Incantatum a green light flashed from your wand, meaning it was used to kill Filch."

This sounded so much like the explanation that Ron had given that Harry laughed.

"You know, that's almost exactly the same explanation that Ron gave. He said he followed you! Thing is, one of you must have been first out of the portrait, or someone else was in the Tower last night!"

Harry's voice sounded worried and confused. The stories of his friend's didn't make sense if neither was lying. Unless there was somebody else in the Tower that night, but Harry found that as hard to believe as one of his friends lying to him on purpose. But one option had to be correct, or else there was something he hadn't thought of.

"Mornin'" Ron said as he flopped into the seat next to Harry, resting his head in his hand.

Neither Harry nor Hermione replied, both were staring glumly into their breakfasts, Harry deep in thought and Hermione worriedly thinking about the previous night.

"What? Who died?" Ron said without thinking. He swore as his brain caught up with his mouth and his hand smacked his forehead.

"Filch," Hermione snapped and picked up a piece of toast before leaving the Hall.

"What's up with her?" Ron asked as he looked at Hermione's retreating back, a puzzled expression etched on his face. His hand wrapped around his forearm as the burning sensation began again.

"Moody git," he muttered and turned back to serve himself breakfast.

"What's up with her? Moody? What's up with you?" Harry spat with anger and grabbed some toast. He stood and walked quickly away in a different direction to Hermione, his mind in turmoil.

What was going on? He thought. First they act strangely towards each other, and now one or both of them is lying to me...why? At least the rest of the school arrives in a few days, maybe that'll snap it out of them.

Harry dragged his feet on his way to the common room, his mind boiling with questions.

In his absorbed state of mind, Harry didn't notice he was being followed.