Chapter 74 - Explanation 2
By the next morning, the entire school seemed to know about the troll incident. News always travelled fast in Hogwarts.
Apparently, three first-years defeating a mountain troll inside a girls' bathroom was exciting enough to become the topic of every breakfast, lunch, and dinner conversation.
To the Gryffindors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had become heroes overnight. But to the other three houses, they had become something else entirely.
The next generation of troublemakers. Some students even started comparing them to Fred and George Weasley. The twins looked very proud of that comparison. Harry and Ron were pleased by the attention and comparison but Hermione was horrified.
Their friendship had become much stronger after the troll incident. Now they could be seen together almost everywhere be it in the corridors, library, at meals and even during their walks around the castle.
They had finally adjusted to each other. The arguments between Ron and Hermione still happened, but they did not last very long anymore. Harry usually got caught in the middle and became the peacemaker.
A few days passed peacefully and classes continued as normal. Then soon another important event approached.
The first Quidditch match of the year, which would be Gryffindor versus Slytherin.
More importantly, it would be Harry's first match as Gryffindor's Seeker.
The entire school seemed excited, especially Gryffindor House.
I knew that in the story, Professor McGonagall had arranged for Harry to receive a Nimbus 2000. However, things were different now.
Harry had an elder brother who fully intended to act like one. So I had already ordered a broom for him.
On the morning two days before the game, I was quietly eating breakfast at the Hufflepuff table when an owl swooped into the Great Hall carrying a long package. The owl flew directly toward the Gryffindor table.
Many students looked up. Harry nearly dropped his fork when the package landed in front of him.
"What is it?" Ron asked excitedly.
"A broom!" someone shouted. The entire Gryffindor table immediately crowded around him.
Harry looked completely confused as he carefully unwrapped the package. A few seconds later, a beautiful racing broom was revealed.
The table erupted into cheers.
"Blimey! It's Nimbus 2000. The fastest broom." Ron exclaimed.
Hermione also looked impressed despite herself.
Harry simply stared at it and for a moment he looked overwhelmed. Then he started looking around the Great Hall, searching for the sender.
Eventually his eyes found me. I raised my glass of pumpkin juice toward him in a silent toast. Understanding immediately appeared on his face. A smile spread across it.
He nodded.
I nodded back.
There was no need for words or thanks.
He was my brother. This was simply what brothers did. And I had enough money to spend on them.
Ron and others were already examining the broom from every possible angle. Hermione was reading the manufacturer's information. Harry looked as though Christmas had arrived early.
I returned to my breakfast with a small smile.
In the story, Harry Potter had received very little. Most people remembered the famous Boy-Who-Lived. Very few remembered the lonely child underneath the title.
This time it was different.
Harry now has a family. He has parents waiting for him at home. He has Dudley.
He has me.
And if there was one thing I intended to make sure of, it was that Harry would never again wonder whether somebody cared about him.
Looking at his happy face across the Great Hall, I thought I was doing a decent job so far.
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As the day of the Quidditch match approached, I was also looking at the next danger that would befall on Harry.
As both the teams took their place on the air, the game started. As the game progressed a few minutes, Harry and the other Seeker saw the Snitch and went for it. A few moments later, I watched Harry's broom jerk and buck beneath him. It looked like it was malfunctioning.
As I sat in the stands, I saw Professor Snape staring at Harry and chanting under his breath. and behind him, Professor Quirrell had been staring at Harry without blinking. If someone could have looked at Quirrell now, the hatred on his face had been impossible to miss. It looked like malice could drip from his face.
A few terrible minutes passed. Currently Harry was hanging from the broom with one hand. I had my wand ready if in the case he really fell. But thanks to Hermione, it did not come to that.
There was a commotion on the teachers stand. Professor Snape's cloak had suddenly caught fire. His concentration broke as he put it out. And because of his actions, Quirrell's concentration had broken too.
A few moments later Harry had regained control of his broom and again went after the snitch. A couple minutes later, he got the snitch, or better to say, he swallowed the Snitch. Only Harry Potter could catch the Snitch with his mouth.
Harry had flown brilliantly and Gryffindor had won. Most of the school was celebrating. The whole stadium exploded with cheers.
I clapped with everyone else. Then I had decided that enough was enough.
At the Great Hall that evening, the dinner had almost reached its halfway point. Every student was eating, laughing, and talking about the match.
There were three main topics of interest for them today. Harry catching the Snitch, Harry nearly falling to his death and Professor Snape's cloak on fire.
I stood up.
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore."
My voice carried through the hall. The conversations stopped and forks froze halfway to mouths. Hundreds of students turned toward me.
At the staff table, Professor Dumbledore looked up from his meal, disturbed from his chat with others. His blue eyes settled on me.
"Yes, Mr. Dursley?"
The other professors were also looking at me now. They were all curious, except one.
Professor Snape looked amused. It looked like he could already guess what I was going to say.
For the first time since I had arrived at Hogwarts, I felt that every single person in the castle was listening and looking at me. I took a deep breath.
"Professor Dumbledore, today is the second time. Today, Harry Potter's life was put in danger, again."
The hall became even quieter. Nobody interrupted.
"His broom malfunctioned in the middle of a Quidditch match. The whole school saw it. Anybody with eyes could see that something was wrong."
I looked around the hall. Murmurs spread through the students. Many had seen it and had talked about it all afternoon.
I continued.
"Also, on Halloween, I asked Hogwarts for an explanation regarding the mountain troll that entered the castle."
Now even more students were listening carefully.
"I had asked how a dangerous creature managed to wander through a school full of children. I have still not received an explanation."
I looked back at the staff table. The silence was becoming uncomfortable. Even the older students were paying attention now.
"Today, after less than ten days from that incident, his life was endangered again. After little more than two months since Harry arrived at Hogwarts, his life was in danger twice. As Harry Potter's elder brother and acting guardian within the magical world, I ask again, what exactly is happening."
I glanced toward the Gryffindor table. Harry was staring at me with wide eyes, surprised and shocked at my actions. Ron looked as if he wanted to hide under the table. But Hermione was listening very carefully.
I pressed on.
"Hogwarts is called the safest place in magical Britain. Yet, first a troll entered the castle. Then a first-year student's broom appeared to be tampered with during a school sporting event."
My voice echoed through the hall. A few students nodded while others whispered to each other.
I looked directly at Professor Dumbledore.
"So what am I supposed to tell my family? And what does Hogwarts have to say about these incidents?"
The hall was completely silent now as the question hung in the air.
Nobody spoke. Even the ghosts seemed interested. At the staff table, several professors exchanged looks.
Professor McGonagall's lips had become a thin line.
Professor Flitwick looked troubled.
Professor Sprout frowned.
Professor Snape was still watching me with that faint, amused expression.
Only Dumbledore remained calm. His fingers rested lightly upon the table. His blue eyes studied me for several long seconds, likely trying to read my thoughts. But I now already had some experience and practice with Occlumency, so he was not successful in it.
The entire Great Hall waited for his answer.
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End of Chapter 74 - Explanation 2