Chapter 28: Detentions, Diaries, and Doubts
"Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. I was hoping this year, you two would not be causing trouble." Professor McGonagall said through a sigh as she sat at her desk.
"I was honestly hoping for at least half a year…" Ron muttered.
"I was hoping for something similar." Professor McGonagall sternly replied.
"I was hoping to at least get past my first day…" Ginny nervously added.
"Your eventual punishment will be somewhat lessened compared to these two repeat offenders." Professor McGonagall said in a somewhat less harsh tone, before flaring her nostrils like a dragon at the boys.
"Professor, I don't mean any disrespect, but what were we supposed to do? The barrier wouldn't let us through to the train for some reason." Harry began to explain.
"Yeah. We didn't want Ginny to miss her Sorting Ceremony." Ron added, trying to help.
The hardened, wizened face of the Professor softened slightly before leaning forward. "That is a… noble goal for such a rash, reckless, and highly dangerous stunt." She said, choosing her words carefully.
"I'm glad you agree. After all, it's like Dad always says, 'You only ever get one Sorting Ceremony.'" Ron replied, not daring to hope that McGonagall was hearing them out.
"Unfortunately, Gryffindor was founded upon courage, not foolishness. So as per House regulation, I will have to give you three punishments." Professor McGonagall explained, further leaning forward.
"Well, to be fair, chivalry is another thing Gryffindor was founded on. And I guess that includes accepting the consequences of your actions and mistakes…" Harry admitted.
"For starters, Gryffindor has already been deducted 50 points in the competition… before the Sorting Ceremony. Twenty for you two boys, and ten for Miss Ginevra." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Wait… 'before?' But it's 10 PM…" Ginny said in disbelief.
"It was pushed back until tomorrow morning." The Professor explained through a sigh, rubbing her temple.
The trio all tilted their heads in confusion. "I don't understand either, children. But it's Headmaster Dumbledore's direction." She replied.
"But why would Professor Dumbledore push it back like that over one student…?" Harry asked in confusion.
"The inner machinations of the Headmaster's mind are an enigma, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Well, we got off pretty easy so far…" Ron said, before getting cut off from Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, I am not done yet, Mr. Weasley. You will also be given two week's detention each." Professor McGonagall added, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Goblin crackers…" Ron fumed.
"At least, that would normally be the case. Due to the nobility of your actions, I have reduced the sentence to you three getting only a week each." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Um… Professor?" Harry spoke up.
The elder Professor turned her head to look at young Potter. "Yes, Mr. Potter?" She asked.
"Since you did say you'll be going easy on Ginny and this is her first day and first offense, do you think you could please shorten her sentence more to a few days?" Harry asked a bit nervously.
"Hm. How noble, just like your father. Very well then, Mr. Potter. For that, Miss Weasley will only be getting three days." Professor McGonagall replied, very clearly trying not to smile.
Ginny looked at Harry in disbelief and awe. She could not believe that Harry was sticking up for her like this. Why would he do something so noble… just for her?
Ron, on the other hand, looked at Harry like he had just force fed him a sour lemon. Why was Harry doing this for Ginny and not for him? He was Harry's best friend, not Ginny…
"Finally. If you two boys mess up like this one more time this year, you two will be suspended, pending potential expulsion." Professor McGonagall sternly explained.
The two boys paled at that before nodding. "Th-That's fair. Right, Harry…?" Ron asked nervously.
"Y-Yes. Completely fair…" Harry replied, trying to not appear too scared in the moment.
"Now then. Dismissed. You'll find leftovers from the feast in the Great Hall for you." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Still worth it." Ron whispered as he got up to leave.
"Um, Professor. One more question." Harry added.
"Yes Mr. Potter?" The Professor asked.
"Where is Ginny going to sleep?" Harry asked, concerned for his friend.
"All first years with relatives here at Hogwarts will be bunking in the House dorm of their closest relative." Professor McGonagall explained.
Without another word, the three left. Down the stairs they trudged, their feet barely lifting off the ground. When they arrived and sat down, the food was brought to them by House Elves. With a deep sigh, they began to eat. Never before had they been in the vast hall without other people in it. And its true immensity began to weigh heavily on them. That was until their sorrow-filled world was shattered by a sudden set of voices.
"Ron! We are not worthy! Not before your grand eminence!!" The voices of Fred and George cried out through the Great Hall.
The three turned to see Fred and George running toward them. Mafalda and Percy following behind with a more leisurely pace. Mafalda gave them a smile behind a glass of pumpkin juice, while Percy scowled disapprovingly at them.
"What are you two babbling about?" Ron asked annoyedly.
"You crashed the car into the Whomping Willow!" Fred replied with a grin.
"Best. Prank. Ever!" George added, trying not to laugh.
"That's not a prank. That's vehicular manslaughter." Harry replied.
"Technically, it was vehicular plantslaughter…" Ginny replied with a sheepish smile.
"We're so proud of you, Ginny. We trained you well." Fred and George said in unison, smiles beaming.
"The Weasley family shall forever hold the greatest entrance in Hogwarts history!!" George cried triumphantly.
"Let's see anyone try to top this!!" Fred cried out in agreement.
"I can only assume this was Potter's idea?" Percy asked dismissively.
"Actually, it was Ron's." Ginny added, glaring at her brother.
"Somehow that makes it worse…" Percy replied, his scowl remaining. 'No doubt with Potter's insidious influence.'
"Well, Ginevra. Enjoy your first flight to detention?" Mafalda asked with a wide smirk.
Ginny glared at her cousin. "I will Bat Bogey you. And I will make it looks like an accident." She told her cousin firmly.
"... That's… not how that hex works…" Percy said with horror.
"Don't make me Bogey you too, Percival. And, this time, it will be on purpose." Ginny replied with a harsher glare at Percy.
"Wait… you rotten little swine!!" Percy yelled after a moment of thought.
"Writing that one down." Mafalda said before pulling out a notepad. "And how do you get that tone?"
"Well, we got detention, since everyone asked." Ron growled.
"RONALD WEASLEY, HARRY POTTER!!!" A voice called out in concern and anger.
"Someone put us back in the tree. Quick." Ron whispered.
"Hermione?" Harry asked confusedly, turning to see their friend marching over to them. Anger painted plainly on her face.
"You absolute buffoons!! What were you thinking?! You could have gotten yourselves and Ginny killed!! Or, worse, expelled!!!" Hermione yelled, clearly distressed and furious.
"She really needs to sort out her priorities." Ginny whispered.
"I know, right?" Ron whispered back.
"Okay, Hermione. I know you're mad…" Harry began before Hermione cut him off.
"Oh, mad doesn't even begin to cover it, Harry James Potter!! If you two idiots ever worry me like that again, you will wish Fluffy had gotten to you last year!!!" Hermione snapped at the two of them, marching up to them and poking them both in the chest.
"But I have good news, bad news, and possibly worse news." Harry countered with.
Hermione crossed her arms angrily over her chest, glaring at her best friends. "I'm listening." She told them crossly.
"Good news is we are alive and well." Harry started with.
"Obviously. Otherwise, I would be devising a way to bring you both back so I can kill you myself." Hermione told them with a scoff.
"The bad news is Gryffindor is already fifth points in the red." Harry continued with a flinch.
"Fifty?!" Hermione demanded in fury.
"Forty because of us, ten for you." Ron said, pointing to Harry and himself first, then to Ginny.
Hermione sighed. "And what is the worse news?" She demanded.
"The car ran off." Harry finished.
"Wait, what now!?" Percy yelled.
"It started up, and it drove away." Ron explained.
"... Come again?" Mafalda asked in shock.
"It started up. And it drove away." Harry replied.
"... It started up and drove away?" Percy asked in disbelief.
"See? It even sounds ridiculous when you say it." Ginny replied in frustration.
"Right now, it's taking a merry stroll through the forest." Ron explained.
"Dad's not going to be happy to hear all this…" Fred muttered.
"That's if Mum doesn't murder Ron first." George whispered.
Ron looked at Hermione with nervous hope. "Hermione? Can I spend the holidays with you and your family, please…?" He asked in fear.
"No. You shall reap what you have sown." Hermione bluntly replied.
"Blast." Ron sighed.
"Well. You three eat up. And go to bed. You've had a long enough day as is." Percy ordered, before heading off.
"For once. I have to agree with him." Ron grumbled, before sitting back down to eat.
"Please don't start agreeing with Percy. We only need one of him in the family…" Ginny sighed before sitting next to her brother to eat.
After some time finishing their food, the group finally arrived at the Gryffindor common room. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny headed off to the sleeping quarters, while Harry sat down at a desk. He soon pulled out of his pack the black notebook. Curious, he began to flip it open.
"This book is heavy for something so small." Harry muttered.
Feeling the book pulse, he opened it. To his shock, something was appearing on the page he turned it to. "I'm not fat. I have big bindings." Was written upon the page of the book he opened to…