"You may wish to hide in a nearby classroom if you want to avoid the students in the morning. I do so hope the remains are enough to keep the school open though, I so despise staying at that orphanage."
With that the boy had departed, barely glancing back at the Auror, still frozen in fear and disbelief. Somehow Tonks had managed to take his advice, and crawled into a nearby empty classroom, before sobbing for the next several hours.
She was alive, alive because a twelve year old boy had stepped forward without an ounce of hesitation and saved her. An Auror saved by a boy younger than thirteen, what the hell was she even doing with her life?
Moody had mentioned that all those who chose her path found themselves pondering this question after their first near-death experience. One would question if they truly were made for such work, and many would drop out rather than continuing to risk their lives on a weekly basis.
Tonks… she wasn't quite sure what she would do next. Could she face her colleagues, or the public? What would she say when they accused her of cowardice? What would her mother say?
An uneasy sleep finally claimed the woman for a few precious hours, until the sounds of footsteps filled the hallways due to morning classes.
...
"Ah Auror Tonks, I am glad to see you are unharmed."
"Y-yes Headmaster Dumbledore. Headmaster about the creature…"
"Oh no need to say anymore Miss Tonks, save your story for the Prophet! I am sure they will want to have at least a few interviews to get it straight."
The metamorphmagus blinked in confusion at the Minister's comment, what the hell was he talking about? It was odd enough seeing the man at Hogwarts to begin with.
"It appears you are still a bit shaken Tonks. Filius found the remains the morning after you slew the creature and reported that you were resting in a nearby classroom, Magical exhaustion I suspect?"
"Uhm…"
Fudge nodded, as if she had already answered the elderly man's question. "Yes yes very good, we are all very proud of you Auror. I can see big plans for you in the future, yes very big plans indeed. For one so young to single-handedly defeat such a beast and remain unscathed is quite the feat!"
"Yes, but you see sir…"
"Oh no need to explain, just get some rest. You will need it for all the interviews you will be giving! Now then I assume this whole petrification business has been solved Dumbledore?"
"I believe so Minister, but I would like an Auror presence stationed until the end of the year, just in case. After the… casualty…"
"Yes, of course. Well I will speak to Amelia to have someone swap out with Auror…"
"A-actually sir I would like to remain here if it is alright…" she had a certain raven-haired boy to confront after all. "I want to be sure that nothing else happens you understand. To see a job through."
"Yes… yes of course you do! Quite the commitment I must say my dear. Very well I shall trust Hogwarts to you capable hands. Unfortunately Mr. Fletchley's parent's will need to be Obliviated so that they cannot expose our world… such a tragedy I must say…"
"Obliviated sir?" A voice inquired from nearby, forcing the three adults to notice Harry Potter standing in the hallway for the first time.
"Oh, hello there and you are?"
"Harry Potter, and you?"
"H-Harry Potter! Why of course you are! Very good, very good, isn't this just perfect Dumbledore? The savior of the Wizarding World meets with the Protector of Hogwarts! I do so hope you two can become acquainted for the remainder of the year. Imagine the story that will make!"
"Indeed sir" the boy replied, his gaze resting on Tonks for a mere moment before returning to the eldest Wizard. "But about Mr. Fletchley sir?"
"Oh… yes Harry, unfortunately it has been a long standing law that should a Muggleborn Wizard or Witch be killed that their family be Obliviated of their existence… there was an incident decades ago in which this did not occur and the parents nearly exposed us to the Muggle World, because of that the Wizengamot voted and…" Dumbledore's explanation was interrupted by the bowler hat wearing man once again.
"And it was for the best I assure you. Now then I must be going, press conferences and all that. I will speak with you later this week Dumbledore."
"I look forward to it Minister."
None of the adults noticed the rather contemplative expression on the young boy's face.
...
"Now then remember your assignments for next class, I expect detailed explanations on how my means of Basilisk disposal are far superior to those apparently used by the Aurors." Lockhart happily reminded the class, earning silent groans from most. "Oh and Miss Weasley, could you wait behind for a minute, I want to speak with you about something."
Ginny shivered, it had started only a few weeks prior, a shift in the man's tone when he spoke to her, one that gave her the creeps. "Uhm sorry professor but I was almost late for Potions last time, and I don't want to have professor Snape angry at me again."
"Oh nonsense, I can always write you a note, we have things to discuss."
She just wanted to leave, to get as far away from the man as humanely possible, and maybe for the so called professor to fall into a deep hole and never emerge. "I'm terribly sorry professor but that did not work with him last time and I almost got a detention. My family will be quite upset if I receive one my first year so I must be going."
She finished packing up her books, before bolting to the door. She had almost made it when the man's whispered response sent fear down her spine. "I will keep that in mind, you should consider what you would be willing to do to avoid detentions from a professor…"
To avoid being in a room with him, alone, for the night? Ginny Weasley swore to herself that she was willing to do anything .
...
"Well well well, surprisingly light amount of security for a hospital" a raven-haired boy mused as he walked through the empty halls. He had not yet purchased a gift for Neville yet, wanting to find something to further raise the boy above his meek beginnings. Luckily he had stumbled across some information that could prove more than a little useful in this regard.
Coming a halt outside of his destination the boy easily unlocked the door and made his way inside to where two individuals lay, both beyond reach by the outside world for well over a decade.
"Now then… let us see what we can do here shall we?"
....
Want to read more exciting chapters, then join my P*atreon right now and get access to 60+ premium chapters.
Link: pa#treon.com/KittyLovesMilk (Remove the #)
Free members get 2+ advanced chapters for free.
JOIN NOW