"You've gone mad!" Blake told Greengrass. "What the f*ck do you mean, "Don't tell Dumbledore"?"
"You can't," she said, looking almost crazy in her desperation.
"You're not thinking straight," he said, his anger and confusion rising. "That man - no, that thing - was responsible for over 10%, probably nearer around 20%, of the wizarding population dying. Muggles and people like me especially! If he comes back, what do you think is going to happen to everyone here?"
Blake was rushing towards Dumbledore's office now, but Greengrass suddenly stopped right in front of him, her wand drawn.
"You can't," she said.
Blake looked at her as if she was mad.
"You want to fight me over this?"
"You don't understand!"
"No, you don't understand," he said with a viciousness he didn't know he was capable of. "It's easy for you to say, heiress of a Sacred 28 pureblood family! I'm a muggleborn, Hermione's a muggleborn, and Harry's number one on his kill list! You'll be perfectly safe, like you were during the last war! Us? We'll be as good as dead!" he spat.
"What do you think Dumbledore is going to do?" Greengrass countered, matching his tone. "You think he doesn't know all of this? Nothing happens in Hogwarts that Dumbledore's not aware of, especially not something like this! Quirrell was a Professor before this year too - there's no way Dumbledore doesn't know about this! What do you think talking to him about it is going to change?"
In all honesty, Blake didn't have an answer for that. He thought back to the first and last he went to Dumbledore with a problem. Dumbledore had promised him safety in exchange for him to stop poking around, and an unsaid promise of loyalty, yet Quirrell, no Voldemort, was still in Hogwarts. Dumbledore asked me to trust him.
"He's afraid of Dumbledore, isn't he? If Dumbledore fought him-"
Greengrass laughed bitterly.
"You actually trust Dumbledore? You know who else trusted Dumbledore? Frank and Alice Longbottom. The Prewett brothers - that's Weasley's mother's brothers by the way. McGonagall's family too. And the Potters. How did they all end up?"
"What are you even saying? Dumbledore let them die?"
"No, I'm not. I'm saying Dumbledore uses people. If he thinks something has to be done, he'll get it done. If he thinks there's only one way, then he'll enforce it. If he thinks something or someone is wrong-"
Greengrass stopped suddenly, before taking a deep breath.
"I'm not saying Dumbledore's evil. Far from it. But do I think Dumbledore's manipulative? Do I think he does what he thinks is right, without much of a care about anyone else's opinion? Absolutely. And if you think for a second, Slytherins like us are at the top of his list for people to listen to, you've got another thing coming. In fact, if you got to Dumbledore, he'll put you under surveillance. He won't let you make a move, because like I said - nothing happens here without Dumbledore's word."
Blake finally unclenched his jaw, and sighed. As much as Greengrass was trying to convince him for her own personal gain, she was right. Dumbledore couldn't be trusted - Blake had already given him a chance. Blake had done right by the terms of their agreement, and Dumbledore hadn't. Now it made more sense than ever why Dumbledore was letting it happen. He was likely trying to get actual confirmation, hard evidence. But in that case, why doesn't he just get Quirrell arrested now? If they investigated thoroughly, surely they'd find out what exactly was going on.
Blake shook his head. It didn't matter right now. He had a gut feeling that it was indeed Voldemort, and even if he was wrong, the risk wasn't worth letting it go.
"Fine, Greengrass. We'll continue. But I need a promise from you."
"What is it?"
"If it is him, I need to know that no matter what - we can't afford to not use lethal force. He's clearly not the same as before if he's using Quirrell. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I do."
"If Lord Voldemort is trying to return, we have to do our best to kill him - or die trying."
/
Exams went by easily and quickly, and soon enough, there was only a week of school left. Of course, that meant that while most were celebrating about no further studying, Greengrass and Blake's anxiety was rising. They both noticed, however, Quirrell's was also increasing, if his increased jumpiness and paleness was any indicator.
The final exam was History of Magic, and once that was over, Greengrass and Blake met for their usual meeting.
"We should increase our surveillance," Blake said.
"I'll do the Gryffindors, you try for Quirrell."
"Alright. Remember - if you find out they're going to make a move, you tell me immediately-"
"Yeah, yeah. And if you're not to be found, I tell someone to tell you."
"Your surveillance will be longer than mine - I'll be in your room whenever I'm free from Quirrell."
The pair separated, and using the excuse of McGonagall's lessons, Blake made his way into the Gryffindor tower.
His lessons had been cancelled during exams, and during this one with McGonagall, she seemed to pick up on the fact that he was distracted.
"What's wrong, Mr Renshaw?"
Of course she noticed. I shouldn't have tried to limit myself so I'm fresh in case it happens today.
"Nothing, Professor, I'm just tired from exams," he said, smiling.
McGonagall shook her head at him.
"I would've thought you knew better than to lie to me now, Mr Renshaw. I suspect I know what you're stressed about."
Blake tensed, and McGonagall picked up on it, just as he knew she would. She laughed slightly.
"I don't know how you found out that Dumbledore's not here tonight, Mr Renshaw, but don't worry. Professor Quirrell's unaware of that fact - everything will be fine."
Dumbledore's away from the castle? What the hell?
Despite his shock, Blake acted as he normally would.
"But when's he coming back, Professor?"
McGonagall smiled. It's good to hear that Blake's still holding faith in Albus, she thought.
"Tomorrow afternoon, I believe, very soon."
Blake didn't look convinced, but he looked slightly less stressed to McGonagall, and so he bade her farewell and moved back. Quirrell is definitely making a move for the Stone tonight.
As he left Gryffindor Tower, he ran into some familiar faces.
"Harry, Hermione - where're you all going?"
The trio were moving faster than he'd ever seen them.
"Sorry, Blake, there's no time to explain!" Hermione said frantically and without stopping, Harry echoing her words.
They'll find out soon enough too. It's happening tonight - it's just a question of what time specifically.
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