The-Boy-Who-Kills

The headline and accompanying picture that greeted him was enough to make him want to bang his head on the table in frustration.

There, above his picture, were the words 'The-Boy-Who-Kills.' The first words out of Harry's mouth upon reading the headline were, "Oh, bugger." Glancing over at Hermione, he said quietly, "We have to get out of here," when she did not move right away he grabbed her hand and said, "Now."

They left the Great Hall quickly. People were openly pointing, and gossiping, about them now. Just as they reached the doors, they heard someone shout out "We don't want any murderers in our school."

Hermione cringed when she heard what the person had shouted at Harry. She had felt him flinch at the parting accusation.

They reached their spot down by the lake and Harry threw up Silencing and Notice-Me-Not Charms as a precaution. Too angry and upset to think rationally, he took to pacing around the garden.

Hermione was thinking furiously. She knew that Remus wouldn't tell anyone about what had happened down in the lake. That left on y one person alive that had witnessed the events, the other Mermish guard. The question was how had Rita Skeeter found out about him?

The only, and very disturbing, answer that she could come up with was that Dumbledore had somehow talked to the merpeople and spoken with the guard. The fact that he told Rita worried, and puzzled, Hermione.

Standing up, she walked over to Harry and pulled him into a hug. While she was holding him, she whispered, "It will be okay. You were protecting me."

"I know. I'm just upset that people will think of me as a murderer. What if the ministry agrees and tries to arrest me?" He asked worriedly.

"Well, one thing about the Wizarding world's views on non-humans is that they aren't considered worthy of having rights." she said bitterly before continuing in a harsh tone. "I mean, look at the way my parent's wishes were ignored and I was placed into the lake?"

"I know, and that bothers me too, but it still worries me because so many people don't see a problem with that belief." He sighed in frustration before speaking again, "If it weren't for you, I would probably do my best to disappear forever from the Wizarding world, consequences be damned."

"Me too." she agreed softly. "If I wouldn't miss using magic so much, I mean. What about going to a different school or something next year?"

Harry drew in a sharp breath; this was something that he had been considering for a while now. He was just a little reluctant to broach the subject because he knew how much Hermione loved learning about magic, and if he really thought about it, he was the same way. "I would miss Hogwarts terribly. This was the first place that I can remember ever being happy." he whispered.

"I know. It's just a thought, but it is something that we should at least discuss with my parents, Sirius, and Remus when the year is out. You can't say that Hogwarts has provided us with the best educational experience possible." Hermione said slowly, as if she was trying to convince herself of the truth of her statement at the same time.

Harry paused for a moment, lost in thought, before he replied, "I know what you mean. One teacher tried to kill me in my first year and in my second, another tried to wipe my mind clear."

Their current issues with the headmaster and a good portion of his staff really didn't lend themselves to returning to Hogwarts for their OWL year but neither of them wanted to voice that opinion just yet. However, they were both thinking about it.

Changing the subject to one that was just as uncomfortable, Hermione said, "What really bothers me is that Dumbledore found out what happened in the lake somehow and let Rita Skeeter know too."

Harry's face took on a truly horrible countenance as he thought through the ramifications of what Hermione had just said. His mind had been turning over the article in his subconscious while they were talking and he knew, without a doubt, that Hermione was correct. His voice was full of loathing as he practically spat out, "What is he playing at? Did I do something to deserve all of this?"

Hermione clung to him tighter as she felt his anger burst through their bond. She tried to pour feelings of serenity back to him, but because she was just as angry as he was at the situation, it was almost impossible for her to do so. The anger lacing her voice as she spoke was frightening, "If I ever find out how that horrible woman is getting those stories, I will make her pay."

"Thanks. The same goes for me too." Harry said as hatred burned in him towards that miserable shrew, Rita Skeeter. Her antics were quickly launching her to the top of the list that he had been compiling of the people that needed to be taught a lesson, or two, or three, in humility.

Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the morning outside, talking about the pros and cons of Hogwarts. By lunchtime, they had quite the list on both sides of the issue.

Feeling that they were not going to make any more headway without talking to the adults, Hermione stood up and pulled Harry to his feet. "Why don't we eat in the kitchens?"

"Sounds good to me. We could eat with Dobby and Winky too." Keeping an arm around Hermione, he guided them up to the castle and towards the kitchens.

They had just rounded the corner to head down towards the kitchens when a spell hit Harry from behind, knocking him down. Since he was unprepared for the assault, he didn't have time to break his fall. There was a loud cracking noise and pain flared in Harry's right wrist.

Hissing in discomfort, he pushed himself up to a sitting position in time to watch Hermione turning her wand on his attacker.

Hermione had been quietly contemplating what they were going to do about the situation in school when she felt something hit Harry. She spun around in time to see Pansy Parkinson putting her wand back into her robes.

Through the bond, there was a flash of pain and anger, followed by resignation, as if he had accepted the situation as normal. A rage began to burn in Hermione, white hot in its fury, and it needed an outlet.

She gave it one a few seconds later.

...

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