Chapter 48: The Howling Banshee

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I would like to thank my beta, Akisu, for his help in this chapter.

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24 February 1992, Hogwarts

"There's not much known about his private life, only that he and his wife, Perenelle Flamel, have lived for over six hundred years. So, why are you researching Flamel in the first place?"

Harry barely finished speaking when he saw the Muggleborn girl had run away to another corner of the library. He suppressed a small grin. That girl was so predictable.

Well, it didn't take long for Harry to regret giving that tidbit of information to Hermione. Yeah, she would have gotten it eventually, probably by accident, but the Potter scion should have expected Longbottom's reaction to it.

Yeah, it started with Quidditch of all things. For some reason, Dumbledore thought it was a good idea for Snape of all people to referee a Quidditch match that involved the house he's known for harassing. Harry didn't know what Dumbledore was expecting but sending a biased teacher to perform as an unbiased referee in a sport he's not specializing in, for an official Hogwarts game, was a bit out there.

The Quidditch games in Hogwarts were available for spectators, and most importantly the scouts. The British Quidditch teams hire exclusively from either Hogwarts or from specialized Quidditch training camps. Playing professionally is not as out there as it is in the muggle world. The population in magical Britain is not as immense in the muggle world, meaning that someone who works hard can become a professional Quidditch player. Turning the games at Hogwarts into jokes will hurt the students' chances of being taken seriously by the scouts. People could lose their real chances at achieving their dream, and all because of some decision made on a whim by the headmaster.

Really, people tend to forget how powerful the headmaster position is in Britain. The man could affect entire industries if he wanted to. Hell, he already has, by banning certain materials from being taught. Severus Snape alone is responsible for a drop in professions that require a NEWT in potions because of his requirement for students to get an O in their OWLs to continue. That's not even counting his attitude. His NEWT students are far more competent than in any other institution, but this competence isn't really required in professions just needing a passing grade.

Well, back to the Quidditch game, as expected, Gryffindor lost by a very bad margin. Snape practically fouled the Gryffindors every time they had the upper hand, and after a couple of hours of what was essentially bullying, Cedric Diggory caught the snitch, pretty much destroying any chances at Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup.

Longbottom had especially been harassed about it since the entire team was counting on him. There was already talk of him using his fame to be part of the team. As expected, without his research in regard to Nicholas Flamel, and the constant Quidditch training to distract him, the boy went nuts. As expected, he started bullying the Slytherins and well, things started to escalate.

Harry had started the day with his friends. It was Sunday, so he had no classes and he wanted to take a day off studying just to hang out with his friends. It was too cold to get outside, and they didn't really want to stay in the common room, so they decided to walk around while exploring the castle. Well, they were exploring the castle, Harry had done that in the first month of classes and had a good idea of how it was built. Oh, there were countless secrets that he hadn't discovered, but he knew far more than his friends did.

Unfortunately, when they were walking on the second floor, there was s group of Gryffindors waiting for them. Among them was Longbottom, "Well, well, well. If it isn't the traitor."

Harry audibly groaned in exasperation, "Again with the traitor thing. We barely had more than five conversations, all of which you insulted me and called me a traitor. How can I betray you before even meeting you, you utter imbecile."

Daphne elbowed Harry in the chest who promptly shut up. Fine Longbottom started to get under his skin slightly. For some reason, practically the entirety of his Gryffindor classmates called him the 'traitor'. Harry wouldn't have been bothered about it if it just made sense. But they're just repeating what Longbottom is spewing, which was absolute nonsense.

"Don't pretend like you don't know, traitor," Neville responded with a glare.

"You know what, I don't care. I betrayed you, or I didn't betray you. I can't be bothered about it. Just think whatever you want but just stay away from me. I don't want your stupidity to be contagious."

Weasley interjected, "Don't you dare talk to him like that! He's the boy who lived."

"Which means absolutely nothing when you think about it and is not relevant to this conversation in any way," Harry drawled back.

"I bet you were glad when Snape was the Quidditch referee, Potter. Your team wouldn't have had a chance to win the cup without him cheating," the redhead continued.

"Weasley, look at my face. Take a very good look at it," Harry responded with a dry tone while pointing at his face, "Now answer me. Does this look like the face of someone who gives a crap about Quidditch?"

The boy's face was as red as his hair and looked like he wanted to yell at Harry. Alas, the Potter scion raised his hand, "Look, Snape screwed you with the match. I know it, you know it, the entire school knows it. However, what I'm trying to understand is what you're trying to achieve here."

"We're just reminding you of your place, you slimy snakes," Longbottom answered.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "You know, it's amazing. You keep moving your mouth, making noises, but absolute garbage comes out of it."

"That's it, you're so getting it," Longbottom yelled and raised his wand. Harry discretely pushed his hand windlessly making him miss his teeth growing hex.

The young Slytherin gave him a dry look and raised his eyebrow, "Now, Longbottom, why are you so angry? You're not mad at me, not really. So why all of this aggression? For losing a Quidditch game? Well, if things keep on the way they are, you'll be playing a lot of these in the next few years. Is it about Snape being unfair? Then why don't you try to harass him and not us? So, what is making you so angry that you're trying to lash out at the world around you."

"SHUT UP!!" the Longbottom scion yelled.

Harry didn't seem bothered by it and continued, "So, I'm getting close. Is it about the points you lost while doing the right thing?"

Yeah, that happened. Apparently, one day the Gryffindor hourglass was practically empty. It was already getting smaller every day because of Longbottom's behaviour, and apparently, the upper years were kinda sick of it. They had complained to McGonagall many times, to no avail. No one knew what happened, except that it was because of Longbottom who practically became a social pariah to the upper year Gryffindors. Yeah, peer pressure at its best, ladies and gentlemen.

Harry knew what it was about since Draco kept bragging about how he tricked the Golden Trio into getting caught with a baby dragon of all things. Harry assumed quickly enough that it was the Gryffindor trying to help Hagrid who had ended up with a poisonous baby dragon somehow. It was what the stories had told, but considering how restricted the sale of dragon eggs really was, Hagrid had to know that there was something shady going on. The story was really unbelievable if you think about it. Dragon eggs are worth more than mansions in the black market. It was very unlikely that someone would bet one in a pub in Hogsmeade of all things.

Still, McGonagall had caught the golden trio with a caged baby dragon and ended up losing a stupid amount of house points, according to the Malfoy scion at least. Apparently, he was the one who set them up or something. He kept pretending it was some sort of elaborate scheme while all he did was follow them around and tattle to a teacher about it.

Well, Longbottom was very angry about it. It would explain the rise in malicious pranks that have been going on for a week or so.

Harry had found the pressure point and kept digging at it, "Oh, so that's it. You're angry because it's not fair. You helped your friends, like a good Gryffindor was supposed to do, protected the school, prevented him from getting hurt, and you were punished for it."

Longbottom stopped being coherent anymore and just kept sending spell after spell at Harry, who shielded with a Contego. The spells simply washed away on Harry's shield. The duelling practice really did help the speed and stability of his spells.

By the end of it, Longbottom was gasping in exertion and Harry continued talking casually, "You're not angry at me. I'm just a convenient target. You're angry at the Professors, at Dumbledore, who let Snape of all people be a referee to your game, who made you get punished when things would have been worse if you hadn't done what you did. But you can't hex them, can you? You can't yell at them, so you yell at the people you're expected to hate. The Slytherins. Me."

"How dare you…" Weasley tried to speak, only for Harry to wave his wand and murmur, "Flipendo!"

The group of first years were pushed back slightly. Harry had made sure to underpower the spell, but they still fell over.

"Mr Potter, Mr Longbottom" Harry heard a severe voice coming from behind him. It was Professor McGonagall, "My office, now!"

Harry ignored Longbottom's sulky look and followed the professor. He shouldn't have been so riled up because of him. But Longbottom kept actively looking for him, and after the first few times, it was getting irritating.

The two students followed the professor to her office. When they were inside, she motioned them to take a seat and they did.

"Do you know why you're here, Mr Potter," the Professor asked him.

Neville started to answer, "Professor…"

"I wasn't talking to you, Longbottom. I'll deal with you later. Believe me, you're in enough trouble already," the transfiguration mistress answered her student who gulped. She then turned back to the young Slytherin, "So, I ask you again, Potter, do you know why you're here?"

"No," he simply answered.

"You do not? Well, as you well know casting magic in the corridors is prohibited," the Professor started.

"And yet Longbottom cast dozens of spells at me, while I used two, one of which was a shield. I don't know why you're singling me out here," Harry interrupted her.

"Yes, and he will be punished accordingly but unlike Longbottom, I expect you to act like a proper polite young wizard. You rarely let yourself be provoked as you were. So, why now?"

"He just wouldn't leave me alone, professor. Every couple of days, he just does his best to follow me, like he's trying to achieve something. After the first five times, I found that ignoring him just doesn't make him go away, so this was my alternative," Harry retorted.

The Longbottom scion's cheeks were almost as red as Weasley's hair. He tried to retort back and yet was silenced by a glare from the transfiguration mistress.

"You say that, and yet you're still trying to provoke him. You really should not treat your classmates this way, especially in front of a Professor."

"No, what shouldn't have happened is Longbottom minding his own business. I am entitled to feel safe in this castle. This is not some battleground; this is a school. And I should be free to walk around without fearing being cursed in the back, and study without looking for dung bombs everywhere I sit. I tried being civil, I tried ignoring him entirely, I tried being witty. If Longbottom only responds to violence, then that's what he'll get. And it's not just me. The upper years are getting sick of their little brothers and sister coming back with no hair or smelling horrible. And they will not be as considerate as to only send an underpowered pushback spell at him and his little gang."

The Professor seemed mournful for a second, "And Mr Longbottom was punished for every single transgression. I will admit that our punishments do not seem to deter him. He and his friends will serve detention until the end of the semester. He and Weasley are really stressing our patience here and are this close to being expelled."

She finished answering while slowly looking at the shaking Gryffindor.

"Then why don't you just contact his grandmother?"

The boy just gave his head of house a pleading look and actually started shaking. McGonagall shook her head, "I am not here to speak about Longbottom's punishment with you, but your own. You will serve your detention with him and his friends next Sunday."

Harry just nodded and left her office, hearing the professor start tearing into the young Gryffindor, "As for you, Longbottom…"

When he made his way to the Great Hall, he found out that dinner was over, and he simply decided to simply go back to the common room. His friends were waiting for him, and they ranted with him about the unfairness of the situation. It was just nice to have people in your corner. By the time he went to bed, he had almost forgotten all about Longbottom and McGonagall, having been distracted while hanging out with his friends.

As usual, his sleep was peaceful until something happened. In the middle of the night, Harry heard something scream. Something horrible had happened. He looked around and saw that no one seemed bothered by it. No one seemed to hear it in the first place. The screaming persisted during the night, and Harry didn't get a whiff of sleep because of it.

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If you want to support me check out my patréon at https://www.patréon.com/athassprkr

I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.

Thank you guys for your support in these hard times.