Chapter 14. Command

- So I don't have any other options? - I have to go to that three-headed dog anyway?

- Not you, Harry. All of us," I looked around at the group, "Dumbledore likes to leave hints and clues in his words, like he did at the welcome speech. And the letter says that the more students who go with you, the more likely you are to succeed. I don't know where it will take us in the end, but you can count on me, Harry. I'm with you.

Yes, I was involved in this adventure. But there was no other way! Here the headmaster was saying, almost in plain text, that if his scheme wasn't passed by the end of the year, the entire freshman class would be on the hook! And, if the teachers were not afraid to use their cruel and subtle punishments, I'm even afraid to imagine what atrocities the one who created all these conditions and controlled them for decades was capable of.

What was it Olivia used to say? "Better to die trying to cope than to incur the principal's displeasure."

And I don't think the freshmen can do it without me. No, maybe they can - Harry Potter, who in the canon was famous for his survivability in all sorts of adventures. But that's not the case with the other students, as two deaths have already proved, and he'll be better off with me.

Moreover, I did not like to leave my students to the mercy of the genius of Dablodor. After all, I was their leader, so I had some responsibilities to the boys. All the authority I'd built up would go to waste if I chose to stand aside in a time of need. 

- Thanks, Kyle. - Harry was embarrassed by his own gratitude. Still, no one had ever been willing to risk their life for him before, so the boy's emotions were understandable.

- You're welcome. And before we start preparing for the upcoming spring and summer tests, and I don't see the point of popping up on the third floor before then, we need to get as many other freshmen as possible to agree to participate. Dumbledore's words should be taken seriously-if he says invite other students, then that's what we should do," I glanced at the Gryffindors sitting nearby, who were listening intently to Harry and me, "Dean, Neville, Sally. Do you agree to help Harry with his assignment? I'll tell you right off the bat that we don't know what trials await us, but they are bound to be very dangerous and difficult.

- I'm in. Of course you are," Dean answered almost immediately.

Neville nodded nervously at his classmate's words, but when we continued to stare at him expectantly, he confirmed his intentions verbally:

- 'Me too.

- Good. Sally-Anne, what do you think?

- I don't think anything good will come out of this," she grimaced, "but we don't have a choice, do we?

- Harry has to do it anyway. But you do have a choice. Either you're with us or you're not," I frowned and crossed my arms, leaning back in my chair.

- And if I say no, it's just like before? - She looked at us bashfully, embarrassed by her cowardice, "We'll keep talking, right?

Here it was, the moment of truth. I had a certain amount of influence among the eleven-year-olds. Being in charge allowed me to drive the other Gryffindor students out of our social circle, as I had done with Hermione. And that caused a lot of problems for them: they wouldn't have access to our class, they wouldn't be able to participate in the weekly feast, and they would essentially become lonely outcasts. And no one would want to lose their footholds and support in such an unfriendly place.

I don't think Ron and Seamus would chicken out, it wouldn't look boyish, and that's a very important factor for boys. But what do I do with Sally-Anne and the other lion girls who decide to refuse? Do I threaten them with banishment? Do I force them to participate equally with everyone else?

Okay, I'll help Harry gather more students, but at the same time, I'll get the girls into grave danger. And in the event of their deaths, I would essentially be one of the culprits for what had happened.

I was suddenly so overwhelmed by the choice that I closed my eyes and didn't answer anything, concentrating on thinking about good and evil.

I dare to hope that I can still discern right from wrong. To help when you have the opportunity is the right thing to do, no matter if you act out of self-interest or purely noble motives. To knowingly put another person in danger when they don't deserve it must be inherently wrong. But what if it could save lives? If everyone, including the victims of such a set-up, is otherwise in danger?

Dealing with moral issues without considering the many "buts" and "ifs" turned out to be much easier than it actually was.

And I wasn't even entirely sure I'd gotten Dumbledore's hints right. What if the number of students taking the tests didn't really determine success, but was just a form of speech to encourage Harry Potter?

Trying to calculate all the risks, to consider all the possible outcomes, I brought myself to the point where my head began to refuse to make further logical chains.

I'm thinking too much.

There is no way to make the "right" choice here, for in each option there may or may not be irreversible consequences. In the end, it all came down to one single question, what I want more - to survive, or to remain human.

Stay human, ha ha. In Dark Hogwarts, the success rate of that endeavor tends to zero. Sooner or later I'll have to get my hands dirty, well, or die. So why not start now? Especially since it's a well-intentioned endeavor. As long as I don't end up in hell....

- No," I answered, when everyone had already forgotten about the question. The boys decided not to distract me from my thoughts and talked among themselves, while Sally-Anne chattered with her short legs and stared at the floor, thinking about something.

When I had regained the attention of my classmates, I repeated:

- No, it won't be like before. When I need help, I'll expect to get it from my fellow students. Harry needs help now, but in fact, so do all of us. A friend in need - haven't you heard that saying? If you're afraid of additional dangers, Sally, no one will force you. But don't expect us to stick together. No student will parasitize our cohesion unless he himself is willing to expose himself to danger in his hour of need.

The words spoken sounded so pathetic that a determined confident look began to be read on the boys' faces. You know, the kind that tough guys in action movies look at when they're about to go on a dangerous mission, but have such a strong purpose for it that they don't even think about retreating.

- I was just asking," Sally used the universal excuse for all occasions, 'I'm with you, Dumbledore be damned,' she whispered the last words under her breath.

- I never doubted you. You're a brave girl, Sally-Anne. I respect that. You see, Harry, there are five of us," I looked around at the intrepid group of us.

- I think Ron would like to join us," he said, "so that makes six.

- Seven! And Seamus, and he won't be left out," Dean said confidently.

- Even better. Now, before the others come back from vacation, we need to talk to some of our classmates from other faculties.

- You mean we're going to call them too? - Harry asked me.

- Of course. I don't think they'd be willing to take any unnecessary risks, but some of them might be willing to do it if they understand our situation. After all, if we don't succeed, they'll suffer too, we just need to get the word out.

- Well, there's no one left from Slytherin, since they don't have any muggleborns," Dean began to list, "There's only Roper left of the ravens, and four of the badgers - Finch-Fletch, Rivers, Spinks, and Moon.

- That's who we're gonna talk to today. Don't push the guys too hard, but getting at least a couple of consents out of them would be nice.

While we were chatting, the door to the living room opened and we saw Hermione walking in. The girl looked at us sadly, then looked down at the floor and quickly went into the girls' bedroom.

- She's often in front of us," Sally-Anne remarked, "and why doesn't she just sit in her library?

- She feels guilty," I said, "but she doesn't dare approach.

- Guilt, yeah. Rats are supposed to be short conversations," she frowned.

- You're not bothering her at night, I hope, now that you're alone?

- I don't know. I'm just getting my hands dirty with that snooty little thing.

- Well, you beat her up pretty badly then, and it was okay," I remembered the time when, after Hermione's betrayal, she'd come to breakfast one day covered in bruises. None of us had bothered to find out why she'd been beaten-it was obvious enough-and I don't think the instigator of the incident was the goody-goody Parvati or the quiet Faye.

- I just don't like bullies," Sally grimaced, "and she got what she deserved. She kept trying to prove to us that she'd done the right thing and there was nothing wrong with it, feh.

Yeah. Hermione's no good at fixing broken relationships, not at all.

- And you, Kyle, are you thinking of calling, you know, Hermione for a trial? - I was asked by Neville, who was one of the few people who didn't have any negativity towards Hermione.

- I haven't decided yet... On the one hand, she might give away some of our secrets to McGonagall again if we let her in on our business. On the other hand, Hermione has started to feel guilty, which means maybe she's realized that she's done something stupid. I'll think about her, but for now let's focus on the other students.

The classmates nodded, and we headed off to visit the badgers, as I remembered the secret barrel knocking, which didn't change every month, unlike the Gryffindor and Slytherin passwords.

It was time to work on my powers of persuasion, and not completely ruin my own conscience in the process.

***

Lily Moon chickened out and refused, not wanting to have a word with us. She's a strange girl, she doesn't say a word even when you ask her something.

Jack Spinks, the second girl from Puffendoodle, said that she didn't mind helping, but that she needed to consult with Megan and Jerry first, and that she had to wait for them to come back. The girls had become best friends with Susan and Hannah, except that Jerry the brave had a place in their company.

I had no choice but to leave Jack alone and come back to the conversation after Christmas vacation.

Things went a lot easier with the guys. Since I had a friendly and even a little patronizing relationship with Oliver Rivers, since we'd sat together in Potions, it wasn't hard to get the shy and pliant boy to agree.

Justin Finch-Fletch tried to excuse himself by saying that he wanted to know what the other boys in the department thought, but Dean and I pressed him on his sore spots, reminded him of that herbology class, and finally managed to get a positive answer.

And if any of them were thinking of dropping out later, I couldn't be allowed to do that. Still, I chose my side. I've decided what I want more. And if it was necessary to use measures, including physical ones, I was ready to do it, because the teachers were looking through their fingers at the squabbles between students, so there would be no consequences for me in the end.

Sophie Roper agreed to our proposal almost immediately, which was a surprise to all of us. I'd noticed that the girl wasn't particularly popular in the Ravenclaw faculty, and the other female students of the Claw had formed their own 'circle of girlfriends', which the only Muggle-born girl among them didn't belong in.

No, it wasn't even close to bullying or ignoring like Hermione and I had been. It was just that the girl hadn't found anyone in her department she could really be friends with, so she was spending her time alone. I knew that, but I didn't think she was having such a hard time that she was willing to embark on a dangerous adventure just to fit in with her peers.

With the recruitment of the first students from other faculties, it was as if an invisible barrier had fallen that prevented us from spending time together. Whereas before we had been socializing, but each of us kept to the company of our own faculties, we spent the rest of the winter vacation together, either having fun or planning our mission and speculating on the dangers that awaited us.

I told the boys about the way to subdue the three-headed dog. After all the information I had learned, it was obvious that Dumbledore's words about the melody were also a clue, but I had been able to get to it much earlier thanks to my knowledge of canon events.

The boys began to figure out where they could get a musical instrument and check out what was behind the dog next. So far all this was only in plans - it was necessary first to wait for other students and to understand how many at least approximately there would be daredevils from which to form our team. Only after that it was possible to think about a small reconnaissance mission.

And now I only had one student to discuss the mission with.

After Hermione's betrayal, we all had to purchase access to the library. If before we had used the girl's help, now all the necessary literature had to be studied on our own.

Not that it was a prerequisite, but in many lessons, knowing the contents of the recommended books gave a slight advantage over the other students. Somewhere there were cases of potions changing in alternative ways, and Snape could ask about it, somewhere there were other variants of waving and pronunciation of passable charms that Flitwick could reward for their knowledge.

All in all, the library was very useful if a student wanted to get good grades and earn extra points. And even more so, there was plenty of magic-related information to be found here, even if it took a lot of time.

The librarian, Irma Pince, had no contact with the students when they visited her fiefdom. The entire time I visited this "temple of knowledge," she sat at her desk reading another book.

Maybe if she behaved too loudly, ruined a book, or tried to take it outside the library, the lady would react somehow, but so far I had not been able to see such cases. Because of the librarian's aloofness, I had to look for all the literature myself, time after time searching endless shelves and multistory shelves.

On one of the last holiday days, I walked alone to the far table where Hermione was sitting. There were thick folios lying around her, and the girl was staring at another page of a book. She was so focused that she didn't even notice my approach.

- Hello, Hermione.

Granger jerked at my words, breaking her own concentration on reading, then raised surprised eyes at me.

- P...hi.

- We need to have a serious talk," I sat down quietly, turning the chair next to me so that it was facing the girl.

She nodded nonchalantly, closed her textbook, and turned her attention back to me.

- Do you realize what you did was wrong? That because of you the Head Girl, who was protecting us, who told us very important things, on which our lives could depend?

She wanted to say something, but quickly faltered and lowered her head down:

- I understand...

- And I hope you realize that no student likes to have their secrets spilled to their teachers. You were completely wrong in this situation, regardless of any excuses or your own motives.

I tried to understand the girl's thoughts, to see if she was truly remorseful, or if she still thought her action was at least partially right. But the emotions on her face were changing so quickly that I could not get an unambiguous answer.

- I was wrong, I admit," Hermione finally answered, "I didn't know that the punishment would be so severe, and I... - tears began to form at the corners of her eyes," "I was offended by her attitude, and all of them.

The last thing I need right now is a tantrum.

- It's good that you realize that. We freshmen are supposed to stick together and not pawn each other's actions off on our teachers. There's nothing conscientious about it - you've seen for yourself what professors can do. Tell me, Hermione. If I tell you a secret, will you keep it to yourself? You wouldn't run off to tell McGonagall?

Of course, our Dean probably knew the contents of the letter herself. Moreover, I wouldn't be surprised if all the teachers had a hand in the tests, as was the case in canon. But, this way, I can at least try to test Hermione for the ultimate louse.

- Yeah. I won't say anything, I promise.

- Harry got a letter. From Dumbledore. He has to take the third floor tests, just like Riley told us the other day. And the more students he has with him, the better his chances of success. I don't need to tell you how dangerous this case can be. You have a chance to redeem yourself to the others and earn forgiveness by getting involved. Think about it, and let me know.

***

Tense with receiving the letter, the vacation was finally over, and numerous students returned to Hogwarts, including some of our friends.

- Man, you'd know how cool it was to get a break from all the craziness! - Ron, who had put on a good amount of weight in two weeks, was the first to say, "How are you guys doing? Did you miss me?

- You can get bored here," Harry said glumly.

- We have a lot to tell you guys. Let's all go to class together, and we'll talk about it there," I made it clear to the newly arrived classmates.

- ...So, at the end of the year we'll have some mysterious tests from the headmaster, which will be super-dangerous, and as many students as possible should pass them," Seamus concluded when I finished my story, "We've only been gone for two weeks! When did you guys get so screwed up...

- It's not funny, Seamus," I said, rolling my eyes, "it's not our fault the letter came on Christmas Day.

- Wait," Ron waved, and I noticed that his left arm had increased in size a little, "do we have to call the other students too? Why don't we just go there as a faculty? I mean, we'll have to beg those... Well, unreliable guys, I don't want to do that. I don't want to humiliate myself in front of them!

- No one is going to grovel to anyone," I assured my friend, "and yes, we need their help, and yes, we will take anyone who agrees. In fact, I'm going to let them join us in this class, because in six months we need to become a cohesive team that can stand up to any challenge. And that, Ron, is out of the question, because your best friend could get killed if there are too few or disorganized," I told him, even though the latter was a half-truth. I had no idea if that statement was true, but it should have made Ron feel better.

- Damn it, they've invented some kind of test for our heads... As if we didn't have enough to worry about already. Okay," he waved his hand meekly, "you're right, Kyle. But you're going to talk to the Slytherins yourself!

I laughed.

- Okay, no problem. Now, I need to know that none of ours are going to merge with the mission. Are you with us?

- Of course! - replied Seamus.

- You're asking, of course I am," Ron confirmed.

- I'm not talking to you, of course you're with us, Dean and Harry were pretty sure about you. I'm talking to the girls. Parvati, Lavender, Faye? Sally-Ann's already with us, you're the only ones left.

The girls were nervous, Lavender and Parvati were whispering, but eventually all three of them agreed.

- Great," I rubbed my hands together, "Now, if you have any good acquaintances with the Puffenduys and the Claws, try to get a positive answer from them. I'll talk to the Slytherins, Susan, and Megan from Puffendoo. Ron, Harry - you have badger boys on you, Seamus and Dean - you have ravens on you. The girls are asking the other girls. We need to decide on the final lineup and have a first meeting to outline the prospects of our task all at once.

My plans were quite thorough, but the eleven-year-old children could hardly feel it fully. They had not yet reached the point when it would be possible to solve serious matters with them.

But I didn't lose hope, because any child would grow up sooner or later, and someday my efforts would pay off. At least I hoped so.

In this dangerous place, and in the world of defeated wizards in general, I needed loyal people. And thanks to the Headmaster's letter, I had a good reason to gather these people not only from my faculty, but also to expand our activities, which had been limited to lessons and idleness.

It was time to form my team.

***

- Why should we help you?" Daphne Greengrass blinked her eyes as the other snake girls tried to imitate her.

- Not me. Harry Potter.

A bloody ball of snakes. Ron was right, and I was the only one who could tolerate Daphne and her company. They made me too nervous with their attitude and the way they talked.

Daphne had managed to get all the freshman girls in Slytherin under her thumb in the first half year of school. That incident with Professor Sprout's test was the trigger for their little girl war, from which Greengrass emerged victorious, while Parkinson, Bulstrode, McDougal, and Wilkins became her "girlfriends," in reality being only the bossier girl's sixes. Tracy Davies, on the other hand, was initially friends with her, and among other things, her support allowed Daphne to take a leading position in the all-female group.

- Harry Potter. Why would we help Harry Potter? To put ourselves in danger and listen to you, Golden," she snickered once again.

Okay, I won't find any supporters here.

—Only then don't salivate with envy, Greengrass, when we get a bunch of points and a special award from Dumbledore," I smiled and winked at the girl, although I wasn't in a great mood myself, "and come on, ladies.

— ...No, Golden. The problems of Gryffindors are not our problems. Thanks, of course, for the information, and all that, but it's none of our business," Nott refused me along with Zabini.

— ...There's nothing else for us to do, how to help the lions, right guys? Bletchley said in a nasty voice to his "friends" Crabbe and Goyle, which made the three of them laugh disgustingly.

I returned to our class feeling upset. Although it was quite expected, I still had small hopes that one of the Slytherins would join. And they were not justified.

But the badgers pleasantly surprised me. Not only did Susan and Hannah agree to help us, but the Megan-Jack-Jerry trio discussed everything and agreed.

— Many of Ravenclaw's guys are cowards, — Seamus reported to our company during the next gathering, — Kornfoot, Goldstein and Booth refused. Malone told you to come to him yourself, and Korner replied that he would agree if Hopkins of the Badgers agreed.

It was interesting.

— Harry, Ron - what's up with the Hufflepuff? I persuaded two of them during the holidays, what about the rest?

— Fuck them! Smith and Roxton sent us, and Macmillan began to stutter out of fear for his life when the conversation turned to danger. Hopkins said he'd think about it," Ron replied, frustrated.

— Okay, so Hopkins will bring Korner with him. I'll talk to Roger myself, okay. Girls, what's up with the Ravens women's collective?

—They don't want to," Lavender grimaced, "they say they have their own things to do, and that Mole Roper has joined us anyway, and they've had enough.

"But my sister Padma agreed," Parvati replied in her defense, "I had to persuade her, but in the end everything worked out with her.

"So," I started counting off my fingers, "what we have is ten of us, plus seven Hufflepuff boys, plus two raven girls. That makes a minimum of nineteen people, a maximum of twenty-three, if you take into account Hopkins and Korner, Malone and Hermione. Not a bad result, as for me.

— And I'm still against Granger's return. She's a traitor! Ron expressed his peremptory opinion.

— We've already discussed this. Everyone deserves a second chance, and if she comes by herself, I'll give it to her. We could use some extra brains, and she's got them in place, you know.

— So many people... Harry said aloud, "and everyone agrees to help me?" Is it really worth it? Maybe I'll go through everything that needs to be done alone? So as not to put the others in danger.

"Come on, Harry. That's what friends are for, and don't offend us with such words. Each of these people has made their own choice, and you can only accept it and say thank you," I replied to my friend.

- thanks...

— Yes, I'm figuratively speaking, — I chuckled, — don't load your head with unnecessary worries for the safety of the others, I need to take care of this.

While we were discussing the final composition of our mission, there was a knock on our office door.

"We're all here," Dean said, "then who's knocking?" One of the badgers? Sophie?

— Maybe Hermione? Neville suggested.

"And doesn't use a secret knock?" — I replied to the boy, - no, it's definitely not her. Who! I shouted towards the door.

— Golden, open up, we need to talk, — a boyish voice was heard behind her.

I took out the key and opened the door.

— What are you doing here? I asked in surprise when I saw Draco Malfoy on the doorstep.

He walked slowly into the classroom, looking around.

— And there's nothing here, it's spacious, though it's a little dirty, — he ran his finger along one of the desks.

"So what are you doing here, Draco?" The Slytherins refused me.

He abruptly pulled out his wand, and of all the students, only I reacted by pointing mine at his chest and being ready to apply the spells I had learned in practice.

The reaction of my classmates turned out to be to hell, and it had to be corrected.

However, Draco Malfoy was in no hurry to attack. He shifted the wand from one hand to the other, holding the tip of it so that the base of the wand was facing in my direction.

"I agree to help you pass Dumbledore's test," he replied, looking at me with a serious, studying gaze.

That's how Draco Malfoy came out of the shadows, discouraging even me.