That set both Harry and Tracey off again. Daphne let them go for a while before she said, "Come on. We need to go up to the Room to meet up with the others. I'll let them know what I hope they'll agree to do." That evening, after most every other student entered the Great Hall for their evening meal, the Seven entered through the double doors. Eyes were twinkling, teeth were glinting, hair was perfectly coiffed, full bodied or falling in soft curls, robes immaculate and billowing, faces lightly blushed. In all, they looked ready to step in front of a professional photographer's lens.
The Hall went silent as soon as they entered and all eyes followed their walk up towards the top end of the tables. Some were openly grinning, while others were watching with concern, if not a little fear.
Young Mister Creevey, after having already been warned once, stood up with his camera and snapped a group photo of them as they were walking up between tables. Harry just glared at the boy and he immediately sat down again. Plastering the clearly fake smiles on their faces again, the Seven looked around and managed to find they would be sitting at the Gryffindor table that night.
"Ah! We shall grace the Lions with our wonderful presence tonight," said Tracey a little loudly. "I'm sure they'll be overjoyedto have us at their table." Room was quickly made for them while they all struck a pose.
Neville, clearly enough to be heard across the Hall, said in his best Lockhart impression, "Ah! There was no need to do that, of course. After all, I could have easily placed an Expansion Charm on the table and benches; for I - am Neville Longbottom." Again, they all struck a pose.
That earn quite a few open snickers, sniggers and laughter. When Harry and the others were seated, he turned to look at the head table and could see Dumbledore was clearly amused; Professor McGonagall had her head down again with her face in her hands, chuckling away; and Professor Flitwick was openly laughing. Other Professors were in similar states of mirth; and even Snape was trying to hide a smile. Lockhart however had his fake smile firmly plastered on his face, but there was no happiness in his eyes.
Five days later, on the Sunday, they had their second attack. This time, young Colin Creevey was petrified. Harry and Daphne were getting in their, possibly, last snowless day to have a walk along the edge of the Black Lake.
Entering, he found out from the others about the attack. He also found out he was supposedly the attacker. Entering the Great Hall for dinner that night the Seven made their way to the Hufflepuff table. As they were sitting, quite a few of the 'Puffs quickly got up and moved away.
"What on earth is wrong with those people?" Harry asked Susan.
"They think you're the one who petrified the young First Year Gryff' and Filch's cat," said Susan.
"Why the bloody hell would they think I'd do such a thing?" he asked, frowning, and loud enough for those around him to hear.
"They think you're the Heir of Slytherin," said Hannah, also louder than normal.
"Me?" asked Harry. "I'm a Potter, for Merlin's sake! I doubt very much anyone could be so utterly stupid as to believe such nonsense! "Well, maybe some muggleborn or -raised might think that. But, anyone who has even the slightest clue of recent history knows that's just plain daft thinking."
"It's also stupid because I was with Harry for the whole time walking along the edge of the Black Lake," said Daphne, also in a clear voice. "He couldn't have been in both places at once."
As they'd planned, quite a few people around them began to whisper to their friends and other seat mates. It didn't take long for the whispering to pass to the other tables and for the whole Hall to start thinking about what Harry had said.
After dinner the Seven made their way up to the seventh floor and Hermione called for the Room. Inside, they all took seats when Daphne said, "As I was with Harry, and we didn't know what happened, can someone fill us in?"
Neville sighed and said, "Young Colin was found down on the second floor, not far from where Mrs Norris was found. Apparently, he had his camera with him and appeared to be in the process of taking a photograph of someone, or something."
"That's why people are somewhat convinced it's you, Harry," said Hermione. "Everyone knows he wants to keep taking photographs of you. And, after the way you glared at him that night when we pranked Lockhart in the Great Hall, it just adds to that."
Harry fell against the backrest of the couch he was on and sighed. "My problem, of course, is that I cannot prove a negative." "Pardon?" asked Susan.
"I cannot prove I'm not the one doing it other than - wait a minute," he said suddenly sitting forward.
"I can prove it," he said. "I can give a Wizard's Oath it wasn't me."
"No!" snapped Daphne, horrified. "You will not do such a thing!"
A little hurt, Harry asked, "Why ever not?" Clearly upset, Daphne replied, "A Wizard's Oath is not something to take so lightly. It has long term implications that can cause you to lose your magic, that's why." Sighing, Harry said, "Alright. No Wizard's Oath. But there has to be something I can do."
"Research time!" said Hermione. "A pensieve would work," mused Harry. "But I can only show a limited number of people at a time. It would take forever to show everyone. And I'm worried Dumbledore will try and take it from me again."
"What do you mean Dumbledore will try and take it from you again?" asked Susan, frowning.
Harry was trying to figure out how to respond when Daphne replied instead. "Dumbledore had the Potter family pensieve. He claimed Harry's father loaned it to him and had hold of it right up until just after Christmas Day."
Clearly not happy, Susan said, "A family pensieve is not something anyone would ever loan out. They're priceless. And it doesn't take that much to break one." "Well, Dumbledore had the Potter family pensieve and claimed my father loaned it to him before he died," said Harry. "The trouble is, we cannot prove that didn't happen."
"Well, I hope he returned it in good condition," huffed Susan.
"Errr - he didn't return it," said Harry. "The goblins went in and got it because he wouldn't return it. He then tried to claim my father would be very disappointed in me because I sent the goblins in after it."
Susan snorted and said, "He should think himself lucky Aunt Amelia and Gran haven't found out; or, Uncle Cygnus and Aunt Isabel for that matter." Looking up, she asked, "They don't know, do they?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you enjoy reading? Visit my site on Tiendup! There you will find the advanced chapter in PDF format, ready for your convenience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://fictiontopia.tiendup.com/