Chapter 5
Pride Comes Before A Fall
Author's Note: Unsure whether or not I'll post a chapter on Easter Sunday. As I said, I'll be very busy! Happy Easter for everyone who celebrates it, even if it is not in the religious sense, and simply just to invite the Easter Bunny to bring those yummy eggs! (Also, for those GoT fans, enjoy the new episode, I know I will!)
This chapter finally ends the first day in-story of this story! So much happened! This entire chapter is one very long scene.
Last chapter I made a mistake, and fixed it three hours after the chapter was publish, so I am sure many readers didn't notice the change. During the "marriage proposal conversation" scene, Hermione said "three days into their relationship" at one bit. It was less than twelve hours, not three days. So I changed it to "a few hours into their relationship." Let's just say I added that line when I was writing a chapter with scenes two or three days after that scene, so "three days" was on my mind. Oops! Fixed now!
Also, I noticed a very amusing but nice pattern over the past three chapters. 25 Reviews exactly for each chapter as of posting this chapter. Last chapter (one I thought as filler!) did it with half the views of the third chapter (stats at the time of posting this chapter)! That's awesome. Thank you to all of my readers, especially those who puts time in to leave a review, or comment. It means a lot to me. I'd write even if I didn't get one review, but those reviews just make doing this so much better.
Warning: Gryffindor Student Bashing, Dumbledore bashing. Manipulative Dumbledore.
(Thursday, December 10th, 1994)
Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration Professor, Deputy Headmistress, and now dedicated Head of Gryffindor House, kept watchful eyes on the entire Gryffindor Table as the rest of the students from the other three Houses poured out of the Great Hall, to head back to their respective Common Rooms. Most of the students at the Gryffindor Table had different looks and expressions. Fear, uncertainty, curiosity, anger, wariness among others. Those who knew Occlumency were able to keep their expressions in the form of what Muggles called a "poker-face". Their expressions were unreadable.
Minerva had done her best to ignore Albus Dumbledore since her speech to the Gryffindor Students. He wanted hints at what she was going to be discussing with the Gryffindor. He also asked her if she needed any assistance. She said she did not. Albus had looked most put out at that. He also looked at her with suspicious and cautious looks, but she too ignored this.
She would have tried to casually dismiss him, as this was supposed to be an In-House Meeting, but that idea was stopped before it could begin. Other Professors – former Gryffindors such as Hagrid, concerned and intrigued about what was going on in their old House – and those not in Gryffindor had remained. Pomona Spout and Filius Flitwick remained, in support of a fellow Head of House. The only Head of House who was not there was Severus Snape. Minerva privately smirked at this. He had not shown up at dinner at all. Albus was rather furious at this and had asked her two additional times – after her first explanation about where the Potions Professor was – about when they could expect Severus back.
Minerva knew Severus was on a wild goose chase, but as the supposed investigation was the theft of a priceless family heirloom, Severus seemed dedicated to find out whether one of his Slytherins were guilty.
When Severus' investigation turned up empty, Minerva would blame the student's suspicions of a Slytherin being responsible on the terrible House rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. She would tell him that, of course, she was going to investigate whether the priceless heirloom was in one of the other three Houses, because as Severus would insist – one of her own Lions probably stole it. After the news and rumors of the Gryffindor in-House meeting were discovered, Severus would likely use it as proof that there were plenty of bad seeds in Gryffindor who might steal the family heirloom.
Minerva wouldn't argue about the "bad seed" part. Tonight's meeting was to find out the identities of those bad seeds.
Minerva cleared her mind of these distractions, and stood up. She tapped her glass three times with her fork. Every single student present at the Gryffindor Table turned their head to the Head Table.
"Can I please have the following students line up in a row between the Head Table and House Tables?" McGonagall said.
She paused for effect and looked amongst the faces and expressions. She raised an eyebrow at the several guilty looks on many of the students. She expected they thought she knew them guilty of something, and she was about to call them up to interrogate them about whatever crime they were guilty of. Little did they know…
"Fourth years Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter," Minerva said.
Beside her, Albus looked alert at the mention of these three names. Did he think she had called them for a specific reason?
"Fifth Year, Katie Bell," Minerva said, "Sixth Year. Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, Alicia Spinnet. Frederick and George Weasley."
When no more names were called, those seated at the table looked at each of the students walking up the aisles to the front of the Hall. Some of them had frightened and wary looks again. Minerva wondered if they had figured some of what was going on. Especially once Harry Potter and Hermione Granger's names were called.
"Aside from the First Year Students," Minerva continued, as the students whose names she called lined up together between the tables. "What I am about to say, goes for all of you seated at the Table at this moment."
The students now had her utmost attention.
"October 31st of this year," Minerva continued, "Halloween. The Goblet of Fire Choosing Ceremony. You all know what happened. Harry Potter's name was called as the Fourth Champion."
She pointed a hand to her right and behind her, toward a corner, where a door was located.
"The Champions went in there, as did many of us staff," Minerva said, "Headmaster Dumbledore confronted Harry Potter and asked him if he put his name in the Goblet of Fire, if he asked an older student to do it. Mr. Potter answered 'no' to both questions. Several adults present responded by saying he was a liar. There was a lot of arguments, before Professor Moody came into the room. Alastor? Can you tell us what you said that evening?"
Alastor cleared his throat. "The Goblet of Fire is a powerful object. It would take an exceptionally powerful person – definitely not in the league of a fourth year or fourteen year old – to Confound the Goblet to spit out more than three names. Mr. Potter could not have done that."
"It is unknown who did it," Minerva said, "However, Mr. Potter has repeatedly said he did not put his name in, nor did he ask anyone to do so. What many of you students may not know – and some of you could learn from – is it is very hard to constantly lie for several weeks and keep the story the same. Before too long a liar will change their story because they forgot the exact details they originally used. Students, Mr. Potter has never changed any of his story. His behavior hasn't changed. He does not show any signs of lying."
There were still many doubtful and skeptical looks on the faces of several students at the table.
"I will say this only once. Harry Potter did NOT put his name in the Goblet of Fire!" Minerva said, loud, clear and with a serious tone.
She glared at the students at the table, many of whom now had guilty looks on their faces.
"A little while after the Choosing Ceremony ended," Minerva continued, "Mr. Potter entered the Gryffindor Common Room to find a raucous celebration in his name. Several students demanded answers from him, asking him how he put his name in the Goblet, or why he wouldn't tell anyone else how he had done it, so they could do It too. Numerous times he said he did not put his name in the Goblet.
"Students present in the Hall. Raise your hand if you never once believed Harry put his name in the Goblet of Fire. Be completely honest with me, because I will discover if you are dishonest."
Surprisingly none of the students sitting at the table raised their hand. Surprising those who were at the table, every single person standing between the tables raised their hand.
"Now you see why I called your names, ladies and gentlemen," Minerva said to the standing students, "Harry Potter named each and every one of you as people he could trust. People who assured him that they didn't think he put his name in the Goblet. Eight students out of – well, the rest of you – who stood firm in their support for Mr. Potter.
"Gryffindor Students, I am going to ask you the first of many questions this evening. You do not need to answer this one. Just think about it. Ponder it in your head. Come up with an answer on your own.
"The question: Whatever happened to Gryffindor Unity!"
The table was littered with guilty faces and emotional and stricken expressions.
Minerva looked at Harry. "My apologies, Mr. Potter, I know you might hate this next part. But it is needed to be said."
Harry looked confused, but he shrugged and smiled.
"To those of you students who were raised in the wizarding world," Minerva said, "The name Harry Potter, the moniker Boy-Who-Lived, is seen as a hero. A legend. Someone who should be revered and respected just because of what he means to the rest of us. We celebrate Halloween, and expect Mr. Potter to do the same thing with us, when in reality, he should be far away from those celebrations, because it is a reminder of the day he lost his parents. Strange things seem to happen here at Hogwarts on Halloween, and most of the time they seem to center around Mr. Potter – over the past four years at least.
"This year, on the anniversary of his parents' sacrifice, he went to bed no longer having a best friend of three-plus years because said student betrayed him, and most of his own House had shunned him because they believed him a cheat or a liar.
"All of you seated there at the table shunned Harry Potter this year. To many of you, this young man was probably your childhood hero. Someone you wanted to grow up to be. And this is how you repay him for what he did?"
Minerva chanced a glance down at Albus, and found him with a frown on his face. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. She simply looked back at the table.
"Prefects stand up and be recognized," she said.
The six Prefects – two each for fifth, sixth and seventh year – stood up.
Minerva whipped out her wand, and pointed at the direction of the table. "Accio Prefect Badges!"
The Prefects gasped and cried out, as did a few other students, as the badges ripped from the Prefects' robes and floated to Minerva's hand.
"None of you are worthy of being Prefects anymore!" Minerva said, trying her best to keep herself from snarling, growling, or hissing – like her Animagus. "None of you stood up for Mr. Potter when he was being shunned or bullied by the rest of the House. None of you did your jobs. You simply joined in and shunned him too! There will be no Seventh year prefects for the rest of the year."
Minerva smiled as she looked at the fifth and sixth year students in front of her.
"Fifth year Prefect Katie Bell needs a partner on her duties," Minerva said, "Messrs. Weasley and Mr. Jordan decide who should be the honorary fifth year prefect with her."
The twins pointed to Lee Jordan, who grinned. Katie Bell blushed in his direction.
"It would be wrong of us to split up these two," Fred said.
"Seeing as they're going to the Ball together," George said.
"Congratulations, on your new role, Mr. Jordan," Minerva said. "Messrs. Weasley, Miss Johnson, Miss Spinnet. Decide amongst you who should be male and female prefect for sixth year."
It was decided George and Angelina – another Yule Ball couple – would be the Prefects. Fred and Alicia were also a Yule Ball couple, so it was obvious that one of two couples would be the Prefects together.
"Congratulations all of you," Minerva said, clapping lightly.
Harry, Hermione, Neville, Fred, and Alicia joined in on the applause as did the staff. Some students soon joined after, though it wasn't raucous.
"First Year students, please give me your attention," Minerva said. "Mr. Potter told me each of you did shun him, but he is willing to give you a second chance."
Albus chuckled softly at this. Minerva resisted rolling her eyes. The old man was a big admirer of second chances… and third, fourth, fifth chances and so on. Of course he'd be happy Mr. Potter was giving these students a second chance.
"For you students, this is your first year here, obviously," Minerva continued. "You are young, impressionable boys and girls. You're eager to make new friends, maybe even with older students. You also don't know the ins and outs of Gryffindor House. You haven't had time to know what it means to be a Gryffindor Lion. I also happen to believe you're a victim of peer pressure. Meaning you were… persuaded by many of the older students to join in on the shunning of Mr. Potter, so you could look cool or supportive of your House. After all, what is more important? The whole of Gryffindor or one traitorous Lion? Is that what those students told you?"
Several of the older students looked very uncomfortable at these words. Minerva had hit the bulls-eye.
"Peer pressure, First Years," Minerva said, "You are all victims of it. You wanted to be friends with those older students. You believed whatever they told you. What you may not know, however, is this: peer pressure is a form of bullying. Those students who convinced you of these things are bullies, my little lions."
Several older students looked shocked, or offended at being called bullies.
"Mr. Potter has forgiven you, little lions, those of you who are first years," Minerva said. "He just asks that you think on what you've done since Halloween. Think of your actions. If you promise yourselves to better from now on, he will forgive you."
All the first years looked at Harry with small smiles, who smiled back at them. Minerva couldn't hold back a smile at this.
"New Prefects," she said, "Escort all the First Years back to Gryffindor Tower. Those standing here in front of me also has permission to leave. None of you have any other reason to be here this evening. However, Mr. Potter. If you feel you need to be here, as much of this meeting has to do with you, you may remain behind. Miss Granger as well, as I understand she was another target, due to her dedicated, unwavering support of you before and after the moment your name came out of the Goblet."
Harry whispered to Hermione, who nodded. "We'll stay, Professor. Just in case you feel you need to ask us anything for the duration of the meeting."
"A fine idea," Minerva said; she waved her wand and conjured comfortable chairs in front of the Head Table. Harry and Hermione sat down in them.
"For the remainder of this meeting, students," Minerva said, "I expect complete honesty from each and every one of you. Most of my questions will simply require you to raise your hands if the question pertains to you. If I discover you did not raise your hand, and you were one of those who should have, I will be most displeased. You are all Gryffindors. Tonight is the time to prove it. Have the courage to be honest. Be true to yourselves. If you can't be honest to yourselves and to everyone else, why should your friends ever trust you again? Something to think about for the remainder of this meeting.
"All questions asked refer to events between Halloween and the present date. First question: Who, is guilty of using a Diffindo Charm or similar charm on Mr. Potter or Mr. Granger's bookbags, spilling out their contents while they walked in the corridors?"
There were shuffling movements and glances around the table as a number of students across several years – third year and up – raised their hand.
"You may lower your hands," Minerva said, "When the next question begins, those who have their hands raised may lower them until they have to raise them again. Second question. Who here attempted to break into Mr. Potter or Miss Granger's Trunks or beds, not knowing they've been warded and protected since Halloween? Whether to prank their bed or trunk, or vandalize their bed or trunk."
Again, a number of students raised their hands, including several girls – most of whom were likely guilty toward Hermione. Shockingly, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil raised their hands, looking half-guilty, and half-embarrassed they had to admit their guilt. Both girls were deliberately avoiding Hermione's eyes, but the bushy-haired girl wasn't looking at anybody but her boyfriend. The pair were talking in whispers to each other, ignoring everything else.
Minerva did not ask if anyone had intentions to steal anything. Since nothing was stolen thanks to the wards, there was no actual crime aside from trying to break into the trunk. Those who tried to vandalize or prank the trunks, could be included as trying to break in..
"Next question," Minerva said, "Who here sabotaged the toiletries in Mr. Potter or Miss Granger's bathrooms, whether carelessly or deliberately placing their dorm-mates in the crossfire as well?"
A few students raised their hands. Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, Lavender Brown, and Parvati Patil all gave looks of betrayal to those who raised their hands. Obviously they had been in the crossfire.
"Who here has worn those Potter Stinks Badges?" Minerva asked.
This was for Harry and Hermione's benefit, and they knew it. They looked up and raised their eyebrows, when a good three-quarters of the table raised their hands. Minerva knew this already, having seen all the badges, even those hidden with charms. Harry and Hermione merely seemed to bask in the fact that everyone who raised their hands knew the new couple were looking at them – knew them all guilty - and the perpetrators were all quite uncomfortable at the pair looking at them.
"Who here has written to Rita Skeeter or other journalists?" Minerva asked, "Giving them rumors, true or false, about Mr. Potter and Miss Granger about any topic."
Several students raised their hands, including Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and Romilda Vane. Also, Minerva finally realized why Colin Creevey, one of Harry's fan-boy from the first week of his first year at Hogwarts, was sitting amongst those students, instead of had been one of those Harry mentioned.
Colin Creevey was guilty of taking pictures of Harry and Hermione and sending them to news outlets. Minerva knew she would have to confiscate the camera, if only to see what pictures he had of Harry and Hermione for that day, pertaining to the new couple's romantic life. She knew there would probably be a few.
Minerva then asked a bunch of quick-fire questions, pertaining to various ways of bullying. Most were minor crimes, but just as embarrassing to be seen as guilty of committing. For example, starting false rumors about Harry and Hermione among not only Gryffindor but the rest of the school, which succeeded in negative reactions toward the two. The rest were small and random, like attempting to pull down the pants or skirt of either Harry or Hermione respectively.
Minerva took a chance and asked if anyone was guilty of groping Mr. Potter or Miss Granger, or trying to touch them inappropriately. Nobody raised their hands. Minerva looked at the couple, and they nodded. Nobody was guilty of that. The closest was the attempts to pull down their pants or skirt. Minerva sighed in relief, as did most of the other Professors. At least the students hadn't crossed that line.
"Two more questions," Minerva said, "Both of these are rather extreme, but I have evidence both took place. The first: In the hours and days after the First Task, who here was guilty of telling Mr. Potter they either wished – during the task - he was eaten by the dragon, or wished he summoned a white flag, instead of his Firebolt, and simply gave up like a coward?"
Minerva knew what she was doing with this one. If any of these students raised their hand for the first one, they were basically admitting they wished Harry had died during the task. Allowing hands to be raised for both options, gave them the freedom of other's opinion, that they might simply be guilty of thinking Harry should have given up like a coward.
Except… Minerva could recognize those who looked more guilty than others. Those who did believe the dragon should have eaten Mr. Potter. Minerva closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she could just Obliviate herself of that last question and its results. To see her actual Lions actually wish another student died during such a dangerous event was maddening.
Unfortunately the next question wasn't going to make things better.
"After the First Task, between November 24th, and today's date," she said, "Who here stole Mr. Potter's Golden Egg – a crucial clue – for several days, before returning it anonymously."
Most of the students gave gasps of disbelief. Minerva knew why too. The students knew exactly how big a crime this was, because it interfered in the Tournament. If Harry hadn't gotten his egg back, he would be unprepared, and he might die as a result in the second task. Especially if he could have used those days he hadn't had the egg, as crucial days to work on the Task.
Three particular students, two sixth years and a fifth year, all sitting together, raised their hand.
"Stand up you three," Minerva said, "And explain yourselves."
All three stood up together. The middle student, the fifth year spoke up.
"It was a d-dare, Professor McGonagall," the fifth year said, "These two dared me to do it, to prove I was still a Gryffindor unlike a… a coward like Potter. They told me he shouldn't have deserved to have the egg, because he should have summoned a white flag and admitted defeat at the sight of the dragon."
"Here's a question before you continue," Harry said, "Raise your hand. Staff and Students, shall we? How many here would have had the Gryffindor Courage to face the Horntail, like I did."
Harry raised his hand. So did Hagrid, Minerva, and even the tiny half-goblin, but all warrior – Flitwick. None of the students did.
"Coward, am I?" Harry scoffed. "What, I ask, do you call yourselves then? Continue, sir. Thank you for standing and speaking the truth."
Harry's words made the fifth year braver. "I… I stole the egg while Potter… Harry… was elsewhere, out of the Tower. Probably with his girlfriend there. I kept it for seven days – these two dared me keep it longer. I… I kept it thirty minutes longer, told them that was considered longer, then set it back on his bedside table."
"What day was this, sir?" Harry asked.
"Last Saturday, I think," the fifth year said.
"Wasn't returned to me until Monday," Harry said, "Don't worry, I believe you. I know who took it those last two days."
So did Minerva. Ronald or Ginny – likely Ron – probably had taken it.
"I won't press charges, Professor," Harry said. "I wasn't exactly very focused on the Egg or its clue in the days following the First Task. Didn't know it was missing for two whole days. I told Hermione recently I was going to work on it more after the Yule Ball. I probably have looked at it two or three times and haven't opened it since the very first time. What I am trying to say is… if I hadn't noticed it gone, simply because one of my dorm-mates wanted to see it again, I likely wouldn't have known it was gone for a few more days. Might not have missed it at all."
"While Mr. Potter is courteous not to press charges," Minerva said, "Here is what could happen if he did. Stealing something from the Champion as important as the Egg is considered a crime. Could be as heavy as attempted murder."
Several students gasped in shock. The three students who were still standing looked very pale.
"Because those days the Champion has the clue are all crucial because of clue would help the Champion," Minerva said. "If the Champion died or was grievously injured, the thief of the clue could face charges. Because they hindered the Champion from what could have been a breakthrough during one of those days the Clue was stolen. They could have prevented the Champion that nugget of information that might have turned the tide and caused the Task to have an entirely different result in their favor – if they simply had that Egg during those days it was stolen."
"My deepest apologies, Mr. Potter," the fifth year said, "If I knew… no, that isn't an excuse. All I can say is I am sorry. I should not have done it. I will accept any punishment I am given."
Minerva smiled, as did Harry, Hermione and several members of the staff.
"The three of you may be seated," Minerva said to the fifth year, and two sixth years.
The three students sat, still looking pale, but also it seemed they were quite regretful.
"I am not sure if any of you truly noticed while you were here," Minerva said. "But every single one of you here, sitting at that table, raised your hand at least once when responding to one of my questions. That means you are all guilty of committing some type of crime. Be it simply insulting Mr. Potter, calling him a coward. All the way to wishing the dragon had eaten him, or stealing the egg. All of you are guilty of something. Many of you are guilty of multiple things. All of these crimes were targeted not only to Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, but to two of your fellow Gryffindors. Two members of your Pride. Two of your lions.
Minerva inhaled. It was this moment that she knew Albus was about to react badly.
"It is because of all these crimes over the past few weeks," Minerva said, "That Mr. Potter and Miss Granger will no longer be residing in Gryffindor Tower, or will ever enter past the Fat Lady's portrait, ever again."
Nearly all the students at the table gasped in shock. Harry and Hermione's former dorm-mates were looking at the new couple with expressions of shocked disbelief. Parvati had tears in her eyes. Albus' gasp was loudest. He looked at Minerva with narrowed eyebrows, then looked at Harry and Hermione, who were ignoring the Headmaster.
"This is both my choice, and their choice," Minerva continued, "And it is entirely for their own safety. They do not feel welcomed by any of you anymore. They do not trust any of you anymore. Perhaps a select few of you might be lucky to gain their trust again. Those students who stood up earlier, and left the Hall. The students older than the First Years? They earned Harry and Hermione's trust because decided to be true Gryffindors and support their fellow lions.
"This is your punishment. You will write two different assignments, due a week from Saturday. If those of you whom are fourth years and older, and do not turn the assignments in, you will lose permission to attend the Yule Ball.
"The first assignment. It is up to you how long the length of the assignment needs to be. You must explain on parchment what it means to be a true Gryffindor, a true Lion of Gryffindor Tower. In addition to that, you must also list every crime you raised your hand for this evening. Then explain why you did it."
A few of the students looked disgruntled or disheartened at that. Others simply looked resigned and accepting of their punishment.
"The second assignment, you might consider much more difficult," Minerva said. "You will write a letter – as if you were writing someone like your parents – to either Harry Potter or Hermione Granger. The topic of the letter is your choice. You could apologize for your actions or inactions toward them. You could explain why you did it. Anything you want to say. The letters will be first read by me, then given to Harry or Hermione. Both are due by next Saturday. Meeting adjourned. You are all dismissed. Mr. Creevey! Please come up here."
Harry and Hermione both looked up as Colin Creevey stood from the table and walked toward the Head Table. He looked like he was about to cry. He couldn't even look at Harry or Hermione.
"Mr. Creevey, do you have your camera on you?" Minerva asked.
"Y-yes, Professor," Colin said.
"Did you take any pictures of Mr. Potter or Miss Granger during any events of the day today?"
Colin nodded. "Lunch and dinner. And earlier in Gryffindor Tower…"
"I understand," Minerva interrupted him; she knew he didn't want to talk about the confrontation, "Nothing else? Nothing the two might consider private. Something that shouldn't be photographed?
Colin shook his head. "N-no, ma'am."
"Mr. Creevey, you raised your hand once during the whole meeting," Minerva said, "So I can assume you only committed one crime toward Mr. Potter and Miss Granger?"
"Yes, ma'am," Colin said. "I… I took pictures of them over the past few weeks. Since Halloween. I… I sent these pictures to the Daily Prophet, the Quibbler, Witch Weekly. I… I only wanted to see my pictures published. See if I could become famous. Harry is, of course, really popular and pictures of him are on high demand. And Hermione… um… well, given she's always with him. And now that they're together, any recent pictures of them together, over the past few weeks, could be used now to make readers believe these are pictures that happened after the events of today, when Harry asked Hermione to the Ball, and they became a couple."
Colin sighed and looked at Harry and Hermione, then sniffled. "My… biggest mistake is that I never asked them permission, or told them I was taking pictures of them. I did it without their permission and sent them out to news outlets. That is my crime, Professor."
"I will return this camera to you after I process these pictures," Minerva said. "All pictures will either be given to Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, or thrown away. Mr. Creevey. I hope this has taught you a lesson. If I discover you taking pictures of people without permission, you will receive punishment. Understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Colin said.
"You are dismissed," Minerva said. "As are you, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger."
"One moment, Har – Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Albus said, "I would like to speak to you."
"If this is about their new residences in the castle, that is an In-House Issue, Albus," Minerva said. "They have already moved into their Private Quarters, which by the way, are separate. They do not live together. Their belongings are already in the Quarters. Only the Head of Gryffindor and any guests I invite may get into where the Quarters are. For their privacy, their security, and their current state of emotions –"
"Current state of emotions?" Albus asked.
"They've just become a couple, Albus," Minerva said. "They had hoped to keep their relationship private – merely making the fact that they are each other's date to the Ball public – until the Ball. Circumstances have changed that. They still desire some privacy, something they would never get in Gryffindor Tower. As you have witnessed over the past hour or so, most of their House-mates are guilty of anywhere between one and several crimes committed toward them."
"You must forgive them, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Albus said. "Only then my you find peace of mind. Your current state of emotions might have something to do with the fact that you might still find them guilty of committing these crimes to you. Forgive them, and it will feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders."
"We will decide whether or not to forgive them, Headmaster," Hermione said, "Depending on the quality of the letters they write to us."
"That is why we suggested to Professor McGonagall that they write those letters, sir," Harry said, "So we know if any of them are truly sorry. If they still see us as traitors, cowards, and someone not worthy to be a Gryffindor. Then, and only if they deserve our forgiveness, will we give it Headmaster."
"Completely understandable," Minerva said, before Albus could say something. "The two of you are excused."
Before Albus could say anything, the couple stood and hurried out of the Great Hall.
"It is imperative I know where they are residing, Minerva," Albus said, as the other staff began leaving the Great Hall.
"Why?" Minerva asked, "So you can put eavesdropping and other charms in their Quarters like you did on both their dormitories? My elves uncovered your eavesdropping charms, Albus."
Albus sighed. "I placed them for a reason. As we've witnessed today, the… new couple… were targeted, shunned, bullied by most of their House-mates. The eavesdropping allowed me to make sure nothing too extreme happened to them, especially in the privacy of their dormitories where they should feel the safest."
"Albus, nobody but the person who resides in their Quarters can enter their Quarters," Minerva said, "Nobody aside from me. Not even Mr. Potter can enter Miss Granger's Quarters or vice-versa. Nobody but those I accept as worthy will be allowed in the area where the Private Quarters are. There is a small Common Room for them to hang out with each other, and any friends they decide to invite. Nobody who raised their hand today – except for perhaps, Mr. Creevey and maybe their old dorm-mates, will likely ever be allowed where they are. Nor will Mr. Potter and Miss Granger likely ever make contact with most of those people, especially since they won't enter Gryffindor Tower again."
"Are you sure that is wise?" Albus said, "Maybe they need the familiarity of the Gryffindor Common Room sometimes. Right now, yes, they're reacting badly to everything that has happened. But in time…"
"In time, if they wish to visit the Common Room," Minerva said, "It might be allowed to happen. But that will be up to them, and them only. Albus, I will not tell you where they now reside. It is my job as the Head of Gryffindor House."
"I can have you removed from the role," Albus said.
Minerva nearly rolled her eyes at the threat. It was a last-ditch effort to get the new couple back in Gryffindor Tower. "All three other Heads and two other Professors must vote to remove me from the role. Pomona and Filius will not remove me. Your attempt at threat in order to manipulate me into telling you where Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, will not only not work, but it is also very predictable of you. I tell you what, Albus. I will tell you where they are under one circumstance and one only.
"Make an Unbreakable Vow with me. You will never manipulate Mr. Potter or Miss Granger. You will never attempt to break up the couple, nor influence anyone else to do so. And you will resign from your other jobs aside from Headmaster, so I know you're dedicated as you claim to be, to your duties here. Only then, will you granted into where Mr. Potter and Miss Granger reside. And Albus? Fawkes will not be able to bring you there. No portraits there have portraits outside of that area. The only house-elves permitted there is those I give permission. And the only ghost allowed there is loyal to me as the Head of Gryffindor House. He will not betray me."
Albus sighed. "I see we're at an impasse for the moment. It has been a tiring day. Perhaps we can discuss this with refreshed minds on another day."
"Only if you intend to make that Unbreakable Vow," Minerva said. "Good evening, Albus."
Before Albus could reply, Minerva left the Great Hal. She sagged in exhaustion, both mental and physical as she started off toward the Grand Staircase. Conversing with Albus Dumbledore was always exhausting, stressful, and will likely cause you to have at least a combination of three headaches or migraines – none induced by Legilimency. Minerva considered herself lucky she only had a mild migraine.
Unless you count the first migraine she received during the meeting with the Gryffindor students.
I am sleeping in the Head of Gryffindor Quarters tonight, Minerva decided.
It was a longer walk, but at least she would feel closer to her Lions.
As Lioness of Hogwarts, it was proper, after all, to sleep in the Lion's Den.
The Lion's Den is another name for the area where Harry and Hermione now reside, though the first mention was the last sentence of this chapter.
Minerva's argument with Albus there at the end, especially the threat of Unbreakable Vow, was her trying to prevent anything he might try to do to her, Harry or Hermione. She wanted to know how he would react, and if she needed to watch him and be wary around him. She now knows she needs to.
So Gryffindor has seen better days. The punishments for the guilty students might not seem harsh enough, but there was an unspoken punishment during the meeting as well. Every single house-mate at the table discovered that none of those shunned or bullied Harry and Hermione got away with it. They learned things about house-mates, dorm-mates, maybe even friends or fancies, things they might not have wanted to know. It will deeply affect them. Far more than written words.
The Chapter Title is a bit of a play on words. Pride in this case is the pack of lions, Gryffindor Lions. The Fall is their fall from grace due to their behavior toward Harry and Hermione.
Next Chapter: Ron and Ginny wake up to discover Harry and Hermione no longer reside in their dormitories. Then Ron gets even more surprising news, this time about his classes. This makes our heroes very happy. Ron and Ginny then serve an interesting detention.