At least until the sixth-year class decided to prank him back.
For ten days the rest of the school watched breathlessly to see who would win the ensuing war, while Flitwick enjoyed the show and Snape downed multiple Calming Potions, but in the end (and surreptitiously aided by the DADA professor and a very useful map that had been bartered back from the Weasley twins), Sirius emerged as undisputed victor. The sixth years abjectly surrendered to the greater foe, and the school went back toтАж mostly normal.
Meanwhile Harry was enjoying the start of a year where none of the professors seemed likely to kill him, Dobby confined his devoted attentions to his laundry, and his da made sure to check his homework at least twice a week.
About six weeks into the first term, Dumbledore and McGonagall returned тАУ under cover of darkness тАУ to report on their progress thus far. "From what Horace has told us, and the other information we've been able to find, it seems that as a Hogwarts student, Tom became obsessed with his lineage and the fact that his maternal family was descended from Slytherin," Minerva explained, while an unusually quiet Albus sat beside her. "This seems to have led to his idealizing the Founders and coveting any artifacts which had ties to them.
"So you think that he might have used objects that once belonged to the other Founders as horcruxes?" Pomona Sprout asked. "My goodness!"
"It seems likely," McGonagall agreed. "And so we have spent the last several weeks trying to track down any possessions of the Founders that we could find. Of course, we immediately discounted Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, as that has been lost for longer than You Know Who has been alive, but that still left a few possibilities. Albus had the clever idea of going to the Gaunt's last known home, as it seemed likely that someone as obsessed with family as You Know Who would have at least visited there."
"And we found a horcrux and destroyed it," Albus' recounting of the tale was uncharacteristically terse. The other faculty exchanged surprised glances.
"That's it?" Sirius demanded. "What did you find?"
"Oh, Albus, stop sulking already!" Minerva scolded crossly.
To everyone's surprise, Dumbledore did not respond with his usual twinkle, but rather folded his arms and looked away.
"Good heavens. What is going on?" Poppy finally broke the silence.
McGonagall rolled her eyes. "In the Gaunt Home тАУ which is really nothing more than a shack тАУ we found a ring, which Albus quickly determined was indeed a horcrux. I was looking for a spot where we could safely incinerate it with fiendfyre, when to my horror, I saw that he was about to place the ring on his finger!"
The other faculty started. "Good grief, old man!" Snape snarled. "Are you mad? A Dark object like that? Crafted by the Dark Lord? Do you have any idea what kinds of hideous curses must be on it? Even a wizard of your caliber could hardly тАУ"
"Yes, yes, my boy," Dumbledore shot back testily. "You are quite correct, but I still maintain that you need not have used such a painful stinging hex, Minerva!"
"I was too far away to slap your hand," the witch retorted, unrepentant, "and I needed to make you drop it smartly!"
The Headmaster looked sulky and rubbed the back of his hand as if it still hurt him. "It was the Resurrection Stone," he explained in a near-whine to the other professors. "Naturally I was curious."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Once he dropped it, I accio'd the ring and destroyed it." At Dumbledore's poorly hidden mutter, she sighed. "Yes, I realize it was a priceless artifact, Albus, but what would you have had me do? We cannot permit any of You Know Who's soul fragments to survive, and basilisk venom is hardly a readily available item!"
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "You are correct, my dear," he admitted, his usual good nature once again reasserting itself. "And I am quite certain that, as Severus was saying, you saved me from a most painful death. It was simply a momentary madness тАУ or longing."
McGonagall gave him a compassionate look. "You will see her again, Albus, on the other side of the Veil. I just didn't want that ring to speed your reunion."
Albus reached over and squeezed Minerva's hand. "Thank you, my dear."
TBC...
*Chapter 56*: Chapter 56
Harry yawned as he headed to the Gryffindor Tower after having afternoon tea with Hagrid. He had worried a bit that Hagrid might have befriended a new first year in Harry's place, but it was clear that the giant was as devoted to Harry as ever, and his delight when the second year had arrived to visit had been palpable enough to reassure even Harry.
He'd managed to slip his rock cakes to Fang when the giant wasn't looking, but three cups of heavily sugared tea were enough to make him sleepy. And if his da found out, he'd be banned from all pudding for at least two days. Still, it was always relaxing to spend time with Hagrid, and Harry felt that his flute playing was coming along quite nicely, though his da and godfathers still tended to cringe when he offered to play something for them.
Hagrid was thrilled that his little gift had sustained Harry's interest for so long, and he was even more pleased to be asked to provide instruction on something. Hagrid might not be bright, but he was smart enough to know that most of the school тАУ students and faculty alike тАУ considered him something of a dolt, so it was both novel and flattering when Harry had asked him for flute lessons. Being told that the whole thing had been Severus Snape's idea had only increased Hagrid's pleasure тАУ imagine! Sev'rus thought he'd make a good teacher! Hagrid's oversized heart quickly established a spot for Snape right next to Dumbledore's pedestal.
From Harry's standpoint, it was nice to spend time with someone who didn't seem half-convinced that his da was a vampire, a tyrant, or likely to use him for hexing target practice. Sometimes the dark imaginings of the other students (or even some professors!) could get a bit tiresome.
Harry turned down one of the castle corridors, heading for the Gryffindor Tower. He had a little time before dinner, and he hadn't even started his Charms homework.
"Harry, there you are!"
He automatically readied his wand at the voice behind him тАУ those dueling lessons were having an effect тАУ but then relaxed as he realized who it was.
"Hi, Luna," he said, greeting the first year pleasantly. Then he blinked. "Erm тАУ do you know you have radishes hanging from your ears?"
"Oh, thank you!" she smiled as if he had just given her a lavish compliment. "They are quite original, aren't they?"
"Uh, yes," he agreed, glad to be able to be honest. "So, erm, how are you enjoying Ravenclaw?"
Luna waved a hand airily. "Oh, it's quite nice, except for all the Nargles, you know." At Harry's blank expression, she peered at him more closely, then said in tones of dawning comprehension, "Oh. I see тАУ they rather avoid you, don't they?"
"Errrrrr, yeah," Harry agreed cautiously, wondering if Draco hadn't had the right idea. "Well, I should really be running alongтАж"
"Oh, not yet, Harry. You need to help us."
Harry looked around the otherwise empty hall. "Us?" he inquired uncertainly.
She nodded emphatically. "Yes. We really need to do this. You know, I never would have chosen Ravenclaw if I'd realized they had all the sad ghosts," she said confidingly, leaning close to Harry's ear. "I mean, Myrtle is quite the moaner, but from what the older girls say there's not much hope of helping her, and so I think it's all the more important to help the Gray Lady, don't you?"