Chapter 59: Confrontation (1/2)

Crookshanks went to Chris and spread out on her lap like a big, ginger rug. Snow was still falling outside the windows. Chris started to think about all of those things she just discovered about Harry's life.

'It's really difficult to be in Harry's shoes.' She sighed. 'But what's the reason that made Black betray his friend like brother and join Voldemort? He was already powerful if they needed so many trained Wizards to capture him — so it can't be for power — Hating muggles? No, he rode a motorbike, he couldn't be the person who hates muggles. He wasn't mad — so why go exposing himself when he could've gone hiding. Betraying his best friend for Voldemort understandable but killing — no — blowing up his other friend like that just because he stopped him — sounds like a madman's job — but then again he was very normal, even in Azkaban. Urghh! nothing makes sense.'

”Harry, you — you look terrible,” Ron said, Hermione and Chris turned to see Harry coming downstairs.

”Where is everyone?” said Harry.

”Gone! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?” said Ron, watching Harry closely. ”It's nearly lunchtime, I was going to come and wake you up in a minute.”

”You really don't look well, you know,” Hermione said, peering anxiously into his face.

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”I'm fine,” said Harry.

”Harry, listen,” said Hermione, exchanging a look with Ron and Chris, ”you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid.”

”Like what?” said Harry.

”Like trying to go after Black,” said Ron sharply.

”You won't, will you, Harry?” said Hermione.

”Because Black's not worth dying for,” said Ron.

Chris didn't say anything, she just watched how it goes because she was very sure this will never work. Harry was definitely not going to agree with this.

”D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?” Harry said suddenly. Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive. ”I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her —”

”There's nothing you can do!” said Hermione, looking stricken. ”The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and — and serve him right!”

”You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him as it is for the others.” Harry said rather aggressively.

”So what are you saying?” said Ron, looking very tense. ”You want to — to kill Black or something?”

”Don't be silly,” said Hermione in a panicky voice. ”Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?”

Chris watched Harry closely, he didn't answer Hermione's question.

”Malfoy knows,” Harry said abruptly. ”Remember what he said to me in Potions? 'If it was me, I'd hunt him down myself — I'd want revenge.'”

”You're going to take Malfoy's advice instead of ours?” said Ron furiously. ”Listen — you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me — the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous —”

”Malfoy's dad must have told him,” said Harry, ignoring Ron. ”He was right in Voldemort's inner circle —”

”Say You-Know-Who, will you?” interjected Ron angrily.

”— so obviously, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort —”

”— and Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a million pieces, like Pettigrew! Get a grip, Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch.”

”Harry, please,” said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, ”please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but d-don't put yourself in danger, it's what Black wants — oh, Harry, you'd be playing right into Black's hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldn't want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to go looking for Black!”

”I'll never know what they'd have wanted because, thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them,” said Harry shortly.

Chris finally cleared her throat. Harry looked at her like he had noticed her for the first time.