Chapter 17

Just as Edmund was about to explain Iris about all the shit she had to face, Iris spoke up in a low, quivering voice, "It's professor Dumbledore isn't it?"

Edmund's eyebrows rose up to his hairline as he slowly nodded his head.

"I always suspected," She continued. "I have never trusted adults due to my experience with my family. When Hagrid brought me to Diagon Alley for the first time, he kept me extremely close to himself. Whenever I tried to ask him about my parents or the wizarding world in general, he was very tight-lipped about it. All he ever told me was that my parents were good people and all dark lords were from Slytherin. At first, I thought he was hiding things from me at his own volition, but, as I interacted with him I knew he was acting under orders."

She looked up at Edmund who wasn't trying to hide his surprise from Iris. Looking into her eyes, he confirmed her thoughts with a nod and indicated her to continue.

"Then he suddenly disappeared when I was about to ask him how to reach platform 9 and 3 quarters. I was lost at the train station when out of nowhere this lady rushed past me and proclaimed loudly, 'There are muggles everywhere. Where was platform 9 and 3 quarters again?' Her daughter, Ginny, replied, 'Right that way mom.' I followed her and she helped me get through the gateway. I didn't know at first, but now I understand. Mrs Weasley broke the statute of secrecy that day when she yelled out about muggles and the platform. She was also a student here so why did she need to ask her daughter about the platform? It was for me. She was probably ordered by someone to help me reach the platform. That someone was none other than Dumbledore."

Iris continued to amaze him. The girl was really clever to have deduced all that. He kept quiet and sat down on a chair that had just appeared behind him.

"Ron was a git at first. But when he saw that I didn't like his attitude towards Hermione, he changed within an instant. When I did much better than the two in our first test, I could see the loathing and jealousy in Hermione. Ron, on the other hand, was angry that I did better than him when Professor McGonagall had praised me. He didn't express it, but he did nothing to hide his anger. I didn't want to lose my only friends and so I decided to drop at Ron's level. You were right, I shouldn't have done that."

All the time Edmund kept looking intently at her. A small tear rolled down her rosy cheek as she sniffed. Reaching forward, he gently wiped away the tear with his thumb and cupped her cheek. Iris looked at him, her watery eyes were red with all the emotions welling up inside her. Edmund nodded again, showing his support with a smile.

"They kept others away from me. I don't really talk to others or have many friends because they are always nearby and drag me away or change the conversation. I used to think they were being protective. How naive I was," Iris chuckled bitterly.

"At the end of the first year I, along with Ron and Hermione went after someone who was trying to steal the Philosopher's stone. Do you know what they were hiding at the third-floor corridor?"

Edmund nodded and interrupted her, "Yeah, I know. I was there when you passed all the obstacles and confronted Voldemort."

Iris was shocked and shouted, "How?! I didn't even see you there!"

Crap. Nervous about her next possible reaction, Edmund rubbed the back of his head and replied, "Well, you see, I... may have been following you since the night we met in front of that mirror..."

Iris narrowed her eyes at him while he averted his eyes away.

"How were you able to follow me without anyone seeing you?"

"I will tell you once you are finished telling me about the past three years, I promise," Edmund replied with a sincere expression.

Iris continued staring at him. Not noticing any lies, she nodded and continued, "As you had seen, the traps were really easy. Three first-year students were able to get through them, how could they possibly stop anyone who wanted to steal the stone? That was when I first suspected Dumbledore."

Taking a moment to breathe, she continued, "Before second year Ron and his brothers rescued me from my relatives and took me to their home. When Fred and George told Mrs. Weasley about my living conditions, she outright dismissed them. She coddled me and fed me a lot. It was overwhelming. I didn't realise it before, but now I do. She always made me sit with Ron and made him go wherever I went, to accompany me. She did the same last year at the Leakey Cauldron. She was never too subtle about it and kept mentioning how cute we looked together."

Edmund was seething by this point. 'How dare she! That no-good lard of fat!'

Iris continued, not noticing the storm brewing in his eyes. "She's been trying to get me closer to Ron, in more than a friendly way. Well, the second year started like the first, just with a house-elf creating problems for me."

'Problems, she's moderating that elf's involvement. I'd wring that stupid elf's neck for hurting her.' Edmund narrowed his eyes.

"It all started when Filch's cat got petrified. I really wanted to thank you for helping me when he accused me of what happened to his cat. When Dumbledore claimed me being innocent until proven guilty, I felt betrayed. He all but said that I was a suspect. Why would he do that to me? He had been so good to me. He even returned my father's invisibility cloak!"

She was welling up but calmed herself by taking a few deep breaths.

"After Colin was petrified, everyone was so scared. It escalated when I talked to that snake which was summoned by Malfoy. I was really trying to stop it from hurting anyone! But, I was accused by the whole school for being the Heir of Slytherin. How could I possibly be? Then everyone started bullying me. Why didn't the teachers stop them? Why did they turn a blind eye to whatever I went through? I was cursed regularly behind my back. Even Ron and Hermione kept their distance. But then, you helped me understand. It's because of you that I could continue to face them."

Her eyes were sparkling, enhanced by the small number of tears. Edmund could feel his face heat up. Her smile was so enchanting, he could just sit there and look at her smile all day long. Merlin how much he loved her. Gulping down whatever urges he had, he flashed her a smile and said, "I, uhm, couldn't just sit around and do nothing. I always knew you were innocent."

"Because you've been following me since the first year. Aren't you bit of a stalker?" She asked, again narrowing her eyes at him.

Edmund laughed nervously and quickly replied, "I'll explain, please continue."

Iris pouted. 'Damn. You're killing me Iris! Please, for the love of Merlin, don't do that!' Edmund looked away, not trusting his control over his urges to show his love for her.

Her pout intensified but she relented, "Alright, you promised! Well, when I was in Dumbledore's office after I returned from the chamber, I couldn't help but think how it was possible for him not to know about the chamber or the basilisk. Even in the first year, he left for the ministry on the very day Voldemort tried to steal the philosopher's stone, that too on a broom when he has a floo network in his office."

Edmund agreed, "Yeah, I had the same suspicion. And, I want to apologize for not helping more down in the chamber. If I got more involved in the fight, you wouldn't have got bitten by the snake."

"Hey, it's alright. Because of that, I am now immune to every poison in this world."

Edmund smiled and shook his head when she instantly forgave him. He then asked her to continue.

"The third year, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. I was really scared when they told me that he wanted to kill me. The dementors were the worse. I was really angry when I learnt that Sirius was my godfather and everyone hid the fact from me. When I confronted him in the Shrieking Shack, I just wanted to hit him with every offensive spell I knew. But, turned out he was innocent and Ron's pet rat, who was an animagus, was the real culprit. I was happy when we caught Pettigrew. I thought that I finally had the chance to have a real family. But, Professor Remus transformed into a wolf and Pettigrew escaped. I was scared when he was about to lunge at me. But I was saved by a nine-tailed fox. You saw it too right? It was so massive!"

Edmund was fidgeting in his chair. Should he tell her that he was the fox itself?

"Um, about that...."

Iris narrowed her eyes again.

Shite! "You see, I happen to... have an animagus form...."

Iris' eyes went wide like saucers. She jabbed her finger at him and said, "That was you?! How?! That was a magical creature! Wait, usually, their eyes are red. But that fox's eyes were blue. I always thought its eyes looked familiar. They were so beautiful..."

Iris blushed heavily and looked down. Gaining some confidence back, Edmund smirked, "So you think my eyes are beautiful huh?"

Iris pouted again, "Oh shut up."

"Anyway," she continued, trying to ignore her blushing face and the teasing smirk on Edmund's face which kept on widening. "I tried to explain to the minister that Sirius was innocent but he didn't listen. We even told Dumbledore but he said he couldn't do anything. In the end, I and Hermione had to save him using a time turner."

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Finally, this year it was the death eater attack at the world cup. Even after that, the officials decided to hold the Tri-Wizard Tournament, after so many years. I don't know what I was expecting as I got involved into a dangerous situation this year too. Someone put my name into the cup and confounded it to select me as the fourth champion. It's the second year again. Everyone has expressed their loathing for me. Why can't I just have one peaceful year? Why didn't Dumbledore put more security around the cup? He has known that I face danger every year but all he did was put an age line around it. He even asked me if I put my name in the cup!"

"Alright," Edmund took a deep breath and began. "Yes, you are right about suspecting him. Let me tell you what you don't know. Perhaps it will answer the questions you have in mind."