Harry "Perhaps we should head to dinner. Perfect opportunity to gauge the situation in the Great Hall."
Harry still harbored faint hope for his classmates' understanding.
Unfortunately, pessimistic predictions tend toward accuracy. When they reached the Great Hall, dinner was already underway, and clearly the classroom confrontation with Umbridge had spread like wildfire. Students conversed in animated whispers, completely oblivious to Harry and his friends' arrival.
"He claimed he witnessed You-Know-Who's resurrection..."
"Don't even mention it."
"He actually said the school captured a Death Eater."
"Is he joking or spinning tales?"
Harry "This is absolutely maddening!"
Harry clenched his jaw, abandoning his cutlery. His grip had been so fierce that his hands trembled with residual tension.
Harry "Two months ago when Dumbledore announced everything, they believed him completely!"
Orli "Actually, Harry, I doubt they truly believed it then. They were simply shocked into momentary silence."
Orli observed quietly.
Hermione "Let's leave, Harry. We should get out of here."
Hermione declared with finality.
Ron reluctantly abandoned his half-devoured apple pie. As the quartet departed, countless eyes tracked their movement with uncomfortable intensity.
Harry "Why won't they believe Dumbledore?"
Harry persisted desperately as they reached the entrance hall.
Hermione "Because they witnessed nothing firsthand."
Hermione explained patiently:
Hermione "Only you and Orli saw everything unfold in that maze. The rest of us were simply herded back to dormitories and informed the Triwizard Tournament had concluded. Everything afterward—Avery impersonating Moody, Madam Pomfrey under the Imperius Curse, Peter biting you before escaping—none of them witnessed any of it."
Harry "But it's the truth!"
Harry protested vehemently.
Hermione "I know it is. Harry, please calm yourself."
Hermione replied wearily:
Hermione "Consider their perspective—they heard one terrifying speech at term's end, then spent two months reading the Daily Prophet's propaganda about 'the boy who lies and the old fool.'"
Rain drummed relentlessly against window panes as they traversed empty corridors toward Gryffindor Tower. Hagrid's hut remained ominously dark. Though only one day had passed this term, it felt interminably long—like an entire month compressed into hours.
At half past seven that evening, Harry and the others settled into the common room while Orli fabricated an excuse to slip away. She cast a Disillusionment Charm upon herself and glided toward the headmaster's office.
Orli "Cauldron Cakes."
She whispered to the stone gargoyle, which slid aside soundlessly. Ascending the spiral staircase, she found the headmaster's office bathed in warm, welcoming light. The circular chamber appeared unchanged—delicate silver instruments perched on spindly tables, rotating while releasing gentle puffs of smoke. Former headmasters dozed peacefully within their portrait frames. Fawkes the phoenix tilted his magnificent head, studying her with apparent wariness. Orli puzzled momentarily before realizing her continued invisibility.
Dumbledore "That would be Orli, I believe."
The high-backed chair rotated, revealing Dumbledore's familiar countenance. Orli immediately dissolved her concealment charm.
Dumbledore "Please, make yourself comfortable."
Dumbledore retrieved a plate of crystallized toffees from beneath his desk, sliding them toward her.
Dumbledore "Dinner proved less than satisfying, I imagine?"
Orli "Professor, you're aware of the Great Hall gossip?"
Orli ignored the offered sweets entirely.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (140+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!