Consequences

A thick, deafening silence enveloped the Great Hall. No one dared break it. Potter's words were slowly seeping into the fragile minds of the students. The professors sat, unable to say a word, believing that every rebuke Harry made was true and that they had no right to question his speech. Well, the students were only now beginning to realise what they had all done. Every unconfirmed rumour they had thrown at Potter, every careless word, look or action had led to what they had now. When enough time had passed for them to realise what they had all gotten themselves into, a wave of indignation swept through the Great Hall. Hermione was the first of the Gryffindors to come to her senses and staggered from her seat. Pain welled up in her eyes. She would have said everything she thought about Dumbledore and his manipulations right now, but the words stuck in her throat and she couldn't get anything out. Pressing her lips together, she gave the Headmaster a contemptuous look. Then, turning even paler, she walked slowly through the doors, straight into the fifth year girls' dormitory. Ginny also glared at the Headmistress and, rubbing her tear-stained eyes, cursed angrily and ran after Granger. Ron was still sitting at the Gryffindor table, holding a half-chewed chicken leg and staring blankly at the teacher's desk. How could this be? Dumbledore had done this for the greater good. And he always knew what was best for everyone. And Harry no longer considered him a friend? But it was Ron who had helped him onto the platform of the Hogwarts Express, and all the Weasleys in general had always been for the cause of the Light, trying to do what was best for society. And now there would be no more ringing coins to be spent by friends at Sweet Kingdom and Zonko's shop on all sorts of goodies and fake toys. Deciding to think about it later, Ron set about clearing the laden plate of food. The Potter sat back in his chair with a detached expression that looked more like a post-mortem wax mask. All the words Potter had thrown at him were suddenly on his mind, and he thought hard. Was it not his fault that the boy was in such trouble? After all, he was the one who had tested his memories back in the ZoT room. The guilt over Lily's death was compounded by the same guilt over their son. Snape felt very bad. Nor did the Slytherins, led by Draco Malfoy, who were now rejoicing at Potter's disappearance, help his mood. He had long since had enough of juvenile idiots who were still blissfully unaware of the Dark Lord's actions and were delighted that Harry Potter had sent everything to Mordred and had escaped. Snape tried not to think about Dumbledore, for he was genuinely angry with him. He had believed every word he had heard, that the boy was happy living with the Dursleys, that he was clothed, fed and even spoiled. And now, looking back on four years ago, Severus blamed himself for not seeing the hunted look in his eyes, the sharp, thin shoulders peeking out from the collar of his robes, and his height too small for an eleven-year-old. Now it dawned on him that no one knew where or how the national hero lived. McGonagall secretly blew her nose into a handkerchief, trying not to show her weakness to anyone. Still, she was shocked by what she had heard. Minerva thought she'd never neglected a single 'lioness'. But the truth stung her eyes. As Vice-Principal, Dean and Transfiguration teacher, the witch had given too little time to the problems within the faculty, which had led to this result. The other professors had a lot to think about as well. But then the murmur of the students was interrupted by a few shouts directed at Dumbledore. - Is it true? Is it true, Albus, that the boy was in terrible condition and you knew about it? - Professor, we must get Harry back! - Headmaster, you said you had everything under control, yet you condemned Lily and James' son to a terrible childhood! - None of this can be true, Harry deserves to live in a wizarding family! - SILENCE! Dumbledore tucked his strange-looking wand into his sleeve: - Everything Harry Potter has said is fabricated under the influence of Azkaban. We cannot trust his judgement until he has fully recovered from the presence of the Dementors. The matter is closed. The headmaster quickly left the hall. *** Ten years. Ten long years have passed since Harry Potter, the hope of the wizarding world, disappeared without a trace. At first, everyone came to their senses after Potter's fiery speech, then they began searching for him to ask forgiveness for their mistakes and to try to bring him back. But sooner or later all traces were cut off and the search was never successful. Apparently, Dobby had used elven magic to hide his idol's whereabouts from all artefacts and wizards. As the search continued, the most horrific facts of Harry's life emerged, realistically corroborated by ministerial papers and eyewitness letters, particularly from Mrs Figg: a childhood spent in a closet with spiders, ill treatment by relatives, and a complete lack of protection and signalling charms in the Yew Street house. Details of the boy's first year at school shocked many people. Something leaked to the press and soon the newspapers were full of headlines about a possessed ZOTI professor and a three-headed dog in an unlocked room on the third floor. In addition, many other veils about Hero's life were revealed. All this was accompanied by sacks of letters and hundreds of owls carrying these messages. Dumbledore had no time to read the correspondence. Every second or third letter was bright red and contained unpleasant cries from all over Wizarding Britain. Muggles were outraged that the Headmaster had dared to choose a child without being related to him, to appoint Muggle guardians for him and other things that concerned Potter, so curses and obscure powders were sent along with the cries and letters. A little later, the Aurorite joined the search to disprove the rumours of Potter's horrible childhood. And then new details emerged. About the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets and the child victims, about Harry's ability to speak Parse tongue. The newspapers again reacted sharply and began to blame Potter for all the events surrounding Voldemort. Only one, Prydira, printed facts showing that the ability to speak Serpentine was not the prerogative of dark wizards. Mr Patil, father of the Padma and Parvati Patil twins, gave an interview in which he reported that anyone whose ancestors included Asian wizards could be shown to have parseltongue tendencies. Which he demonstrated in Mr Lovegood's office by talking to a conjured snake. Former friends and members of the Order of the Phoenix tried day and night to locate the boy, to find some clue as to where Harry might be hiding, but it was all in vain, for our hero would not turn himself in, giving Voldemort carte blanche, which he took full advantage of. Every country was sent an official request from the Ministry to find out if Harry Potter was on their territory. Many countries, upon learning of the boy's escape, simply refused to report anything on the subject, limiting themselves to the standard "we don't have the boy, and we never did". The search continued until the Dark Lord, aware of the disappearance of a potential threat to his immortality, took matters into his own hands and began a new magical war, recruiting the most diverse army. It included many of the most dangerous creatures: vampires, giants, vaels, black centaurs, werewolves, trolls, dementors, infernals and, of course, mages who had sworn allegiance to He-Who-Will-Name-it all joined the Dark Lord. A dark time had come. Harry had to be forgotten, for the integrity and protection of the magical world had become more urgent than finding a minor wizard. People left in a hurry, some joining the Aurors and trying to fight the Upywans. Others, who had entered Hogwarts at the invitation of the Headmaster, set up barricades around the castle. For some reason, everyone decided that Voldemort was going to attack the school. *** Draco Malfoy, the only heir to the house, sat in his father's study, slowly sipping firewiskey. Unwanted thoughts crept into his clear mind. Malfoy kept remembering Potter's departure from the school. The Gryffindor's fiery speech had impressed him so much that he was happy for another week. Draco was thrilled that Potter, the school's worst enemy, was finally gone. Every word he spoke echoed with a triumphant song in his soul. Malfoy was aware that he was jealous of the Chosen One, but his emotions were overflowing: both glee and triumph were boundless. The boy anticipated accepting the mark, the mark of distinction, honour and respect, to serve the Dark Lord. Then, echoing his father's words, Draco didn't know where Potter's disappearance would lead. For nearly ten years, the boy had endured the Dark Lord's madness, hoping to see the greatness his father had spoken of. Malfoy sighed sadly and closed his eyes for a moment. "If only I had known that the mark wasn't a badge of honour at all, but a slave brand that forced me to do whatever the master demanded! Surely I would have run after Potter! Ten years. Ten bloody years of endless raids, torture, murder and violence. Was this really the life my father wanted for me? And now there's no escape. The Dark Lord watches over the loyalty of his servants. I don't know who to turn to for help... But if the old man has taken Krebbe and Goyle, then it's definitely worth turning to him. What if the Lord finds me through the mark? Merlin, I'm so scared. For the first time in my life, all I want is peace..." Rubbing his left hand lightly where the mark was blackened, Malfoy thought hard for the first time about his loyalty to the Dark Side and, after pouring another shot of flaming whiskey down his throat, made a decision. *** Potions Professor Severus Snape also got drunk. Savouring a shot of his favourite absinthe with the tart scent of wormwood, the man never for a moment forgot his guilt over Lily and their son. He regretted his attitude towards Harry and hoped that when he was found, he could ask for forgiveness. Of course, Snape knew that any hope of forgiveness was futile, for Potter had been gone for some ten years. The more the Potter sank into his thoughts, the clearer it became that there might be no future with this arrangement of powers... And what future could there be if Snape was still a servant of two masters, as Potter had said in his farewell speech. His loyalty to Dumbledore was not something he had a conscience about. Even the crumbs of information the Potter gleaned from the enemy camp were valuable. Snape wondered if, like Harry, he could get away with it and never come back. No. The Dark Mark would not allow it. The Potter knew that the Lord would find him anywhere, take him from the ground and kill him personally, having tortured him for a long time beforehand. Deciding to find the boy through his own channels, Snape calmed down a little and continued to drink alone. *** Hermione Granger stood by the window of her office at Hogwarts. After finishing her seventh year and graduating, she had stayed on at the school as an assistant teacher of spells. After a few years, Granger was able to get a professorship, replacing Flitwick in the younger courses. After Harry left, her relationship with Ron became increasingly strained. Finally, after a final falling-out with Weasley Junior, Hermione decided to go her own way and join the Order of the Phoenix. A few skirmishes with the Weasleys showed her how weak she was as a fighter. This discovery forced her to become more serious and immerse herself in endless training. In Harry's case, she blamed herself for not knowing the conditions the boy had grown up in, and for reacting to everything in terms of correctness and morality. How Granger regretted now that she hadn't found the strength to apologise to Potter back then. The stupidity she'd done in the days of Harry's trial was enough to keep her from forgetting a single word Potter had said on that fateful day for ten years afterwards. The guilt grew, fuelled the girl's thoughts, and there was nothing she could do about it, completely resigned to the circumstances. *** Ron Weasley initially felt remorse for not being completely honest with Harry. In fact, at the most crucial moment, he thought Potter wanted the glory, so he put his name in the cup. But otherwise he had always been there for him, supporting Potter as best he could. So Ron thought, never doubting Dumbledore's greatness for a moment. He had asked to meet the Chosen One on Platform 9 and ¾, to explain to him that not all wizards were equal and to help him make the right choice. And never mind that a chubby wallet had moved into Molly's pocket, barely jingling when she picked it up. Ron noticed everything, but he didn't care, because money meant his family would have plenty to eat, and maybe new robes. And he didn't mind being friends. After a few years, Ron became angry that Potter didn't show up and that they had to fight the Dark Lord themselves, whom he was still afraid to call by name. It pissed the boy off that Harry was resting somewhere, enjoying life, probably rolling around like cheese in butter, while he should be hiding in corners, watching the deaths of loved ones and friends, and the more time passed, the more Ron got on his nerves. Eventually, Weasley began to blame Potter for all his troubles and promised himself that he would punch him in the nose at the first opportunity. *** For the first year and a half after the Boy Who Survived disappeared, all was relatively quiet. There had been no raids or attacks by Voldemort. He had lurked, and wizards wondered when and what to expect. Everyone assumed that the day would come when something great and terrible would happen at the same time. And it came. War broke out and all hell broke loose. There were constant attacks on Muggles and wizarding families. Sometimes whole neighbourhoods had to be rebuilt after battles, the sick sent to St Mungo's and the dead paid their respects. Devastation was everywhere. Voldemort had launched military operations in the major centres of magical Britain, personally leading the largest raids. Plumes of black smoke billowed over Slanted Lane, forming a giant skull with a snake crawling out of its mouth. Nearly all the shops were in ruins and the doors of those that survived were hastily nailed shut with rough boards. The Ollivander's sign was sagging and faded. Stones in the pavement bore the scars of battle and were littered with tiny shards of glass, pieces of parchment and other debris. The beloved alley had become a symbol of the collapse of the magical world. And that was just the flower. The Ministry of Magic building had been completely taken over by the Reapers, and now they could do as they pleased. The only surviving department was the Department of Mysteries, the place where the Unspeakables barricaded themselves and carefully defended themselves with their methods. Anyone who approached its doors was exposed to a variety of artefacts and workings. Rookwood, for example, was now missing a finger on his right hand, while McNair walked around with a bald head with a single flower growing on it, grabbing everything in his path. Hogsmeade. The only fully magical village dangerously close to Hogwarts. The shops were now ruined, the houses burned and wiped off the face of the earth. You could play golf on the site of the village, were it not for the clouds of ash that rose with every step, making it difficult to breathe and getting into your eyes. Only ruins remained of the wizards' main residences. Only Gringotts survived, and Voldemort's servants were afraid to poke their noses into it, well aware of the goblins' abilities. The latter, in turn, froze their largest accounts and went on the defensive, preventing the Uppians from breaking into other people's vaults and looting. Many once again set out in search of Harry Potter, believing that he was the one who could stop Voldemort. Vainly searching forests, fields, even the most visible objects, and sending messengers to the farthest lands in the hope of finding even the slightest trace of the Chosen One, desperate wizards gathered under Dumbledore's leadership. *** The grey-haired wizard himself realised that there was little hope of a happy outcome. The headmaster of Hogwarts did not understand what Voldemort was trying to achieve, and he was using every means at his disposal to strengthen the castle entrusted to him by the Ministry, including the dark arts of blood magic. The huge castle, with its four towers, was now the only stronghold of all that was light still held by the Order and Albus Dumbledore himself. For the past ten years they had been on constant alert, ready to fight, but this did not prevent the children from continuing their education. The programme had to be severely curtailed - first years in Transfiguration were no longer just turning matches into needles, and spells were no longer limited to the school course to include combat spells. Everything was geared towards survival. Mugglecraft and Divination were abolished. In their place was combat artefacting, a basic course in dark and elemental magic, as everyone recognised the need to have an arsenal of spells that would help them stay alive in the new world, at least crippled. The students did not want to put up with the new subjects, disrupting classes and doing all sorts of mischief. Those who understood the need for change quietly mastered all the wisdom of science, occupying the library and the free training rooms. The rest of the bullies and troublemakers were fobbed off by Dumbledore, who allowed Filch to flog them. Over the years, the Order of the Phoenix was joined by many magicians from all over Britain. Among them were the Upivants, who, observing their master's madness, chose to keep themselves alive. Malfoy, Carrow, Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle and their families joined Dumbledore in successfully repelling all of Voldemort's attacks on the castle. But now there was another problem. Hogwarts was slowly losing its centuries-old protection. Like water slipping through one's fingers, magic was leaking out of every nook and cranny, almost imperceptibly, little by little, but still noticeably. Some time after Potter's disappearance, for the first time, the Godric Hat did not make a sound at the Placement, not even a greeting to the First Years, though before that it had howled long and tediously each time, urging everyone to unite for the good of the Fatherland. Now she simply called out the faculties as they were assigned, sending the children to their desks and leaving no time for internal dialogue. A little later, Albus noticed that all the portraits were talking to each other, ignoring the pleas of the students and professors. It was a difficult time for everyone, for one day it was discovered that the paintings covering the entrances to the faculty rooms no longer opened. It was good that the housekeepers were still in the castle. They didn't seem to be affected by the 'leak' of magic. They quickly cleaned up and removed all the paintings from the doors. But the epic did not end there. Over the next few years, all the paintings in the castle stopped moving. The figures that had lodged themselves in neighbouring frames remained there, representing a wild mix of styles and trends in art. The same was true of the ghosts. Nearly Headless Nick made fewer appearances in Gryffindor's living room, the Bloody Baron no longer dispelled troublemakers, when there were any. Peeves appeared less frequently, his jokes became repetitive and then stopped. The other ghosts lasted another year before they finally disembodied. The power of the castle was drying up. *** The Headmaster's office was perhaps too crowded. Members of the Order of the Phoenix had gathered shoulder to shoulder with former Upivants and recent graduates to solve a pressing problem: how to stop the destruction of the castle's magical web. The meeting had been called after enchanted candles began dripping wax directly into the students' food in the middle of another meal, and then falling from the ceiling, which had long since ceased to be a reflection of the real sky.