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(Enchanting Melodies) Chapter 48: The Howling Banshee
🕑 Added 2023-04-17 12:36:57 +0000 UTCChapter 48: The Howling Banshee
24 February 1991, Hogwarts
“There’s not much known about his private life, only that he and his wife, Perenelle Flamel, have lived for over six hundred years. So, why are you researching Flamel in the first place?”
Harry barely finished speaking when he saw the Muggleborn girl had run away to another corner of the library. He suppressed a small grin. That girl was so predictable.
Well, it didn’t take long for Harry to regret giving that tidbit of information to Hermione. Yeah, she would have gotten it eventually, probably by accident, but the Potter scion should have expected Longbottom’s reaction to it.
Yeah, it started with Quidditch of all things. For some reason Dumbledore thought it was a good idea for Snape of all people to referee a Quidditch match that involved the house he’s known for harassing. Harry didn’t know what Dumbledore was expecting but sending a biased teacher to perform as an unbiased referee in a sport he’s not specializing in, for an official Hogwarts game, was a bit out there.
The Quidditch games in Hogwarts were available for spectators, and most importantly the scouts. The British Quidditch teams hire exclusively from either Hogwarts, or from specialized Quidditch training camps. Playing professionally is not as out there as it is in the muggle world. The population in magical Britain is not as immense in the muggle world, meaning that someone who works hard can become a professional Quidditch player. Turning the games at Hogwarts into jokes will hurt the students’ chances at being taken seriously by the scouts. People could lose their real chances at achieving their dream, and all because of some decision made on a whim by the headmaster.
Really, people tend to forget how powerful the headmaster position is in Britain. The man could affect entire industries if he wanted to. Hell, he already has, by banning certain materials from being taught. Severus Snape alone is responsible a drop in professions that require a NEWT in potions because of his requirement at students getting an O in their OWLs to continue. That’s not even counting his attitude.
Well, back to the Quidditch game, as expected, Gryffindor lost by a very bad margin. Snape practically fouled the Gryffindors every time they had the upper hand, and after a couple of hours of what was essentially bullying, Cedric Diggory caught the snitch, pretty much destroying any chances at Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup.
Longbottom had especially been harassed about it, since the entire team was counting on him. There was already talk of him using his fame to be part of the team. As expected, without his research in regard to Nicholas Flamel, and the constant Quidditch training to distract him, the boy went nuts. As expected, he started bullying the Slytherins and well, things started to escalate.
Harry had started the day with his friends. It was Sunday, so he had no classes and he wanted to take a day off studying just to hang out with his friends. It was too cold to get outside, and they didn’t really want to stay in the common room, so they decided to walk around while exploring the castle. Well, they were exploring the castle, Harry had done that in the first month of classes and had a good idea on how it was built. Oh, there were countless secrets that he hadn’t discovered, but he knew far more than his friends did.
Unfortunately, when they were walking on the second floor, there was s group of Gryffindors waiting for them. Among them was Longbottom, “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the traitor.”
Harry audibly groaned in exasperation, “Again with the traitor thing. We barely had more than five conversations, all of which you insulted me and called me a traitor. How can I betray you before even meeting you, you utter imbecile.”
Daphne elbowed Harry in the chest who promptly shut up. Fine Longbottom started to get under his skin slightly. For some reason, practically the entirety of his Gryffindor classmates called him the ‘traitor’. Harry wouldn’t have been bothered about it if it just made sense. But they’re just repeating what Longbottom is spewing, which was absolute nonsense.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know, traitor,” Neville responded with a glare.
“You know what, I don’t care. I betrayed you, or I didn’t betray you. I can’t be bothered about it. Just think whatever you want but just stay away from me. I don’t want your stupidity to be contagious.”
Weasley interjected, “Don’t you dare talk to him like that! He’s the boy who lived.”
“Which means absolutely nothing when you think about it and is not relevant to this conversation in any way,” Harry drawled back.
“I bet you were glad when Snape was the Quidditch referee, Potter. Your team wouldn’t have had a chance to win the cup without him cheating,” the redhead continued.
“Weasley, look at my face. Take a very good look at it,” Harry responded with a dry tone while pointing at his face, “Now answer me. Does this look like the face of someone who gives a crap about Quidditch?”
The boy’s face was as red as his hair and looked like he wanted to yell at Harry. Alas, the Potter scion raised his hand, “Look, Snape screwed you with the match. I know it, you know it, the entire school knows it. However, what I’m trying to understand is what you’re trying to achieve here.”
“We’re just reminding you of your place, you slimy snakes,” Longbottom answered.
Harry raised an eyebrow, “You know, it’s amazing. You keep moving your mouth, making noises, but absolute garbage comes out of it.”
“That’s it, you’re so getting it,” Longbottom yelled and raised his wand. Harry discretely pushed his hand windlessly making him miss his teeth growing hex.
The young Slytherin gave him dry look and raised his eyebrow, “Now, Longbottom, why are you so angry? You’re not mad at me, not really. So why all of this aggression? For losing a Quidditch game? Well, if things keep on the way they are, you’ll be playing a lot of these in the next few years. Is it about Snape being unfair? Then why don’t you try to harass him and not us. So, what is making you so angry that you’re trying to lash out to the world around you.”
“SHUT UP!!” the Longbottom scion yelled.
Harry didn’t seem bothered by it and continued, “So, I’m getting close. Is it about the points you lost while doing the right thing?”
Yeah, that happened. Apparently, one day the Gryffindor hourglass was practically empty. It was already getting smaller every day because of Longbottom’s behavior, and apparently, the upper years were kinda sick of it. They had complained to McGonagall many times, to no avail. No one knew what happened, except that it was because of Longbottom who practically became a social pariah to the upper year Gryffindors. Yeah, peer pressure at its best, ladies and gentlemen.
Harry knew what it was about, since Draco kept bragging about how he tricked the Golden Trio into getting caught with a baby dragon of all things. Harry assumed quickly enough that it was the Gryffindor trying to help Hagrid who had ended up with a poisonous baby dragon somehow. It was what the stories had told, but considering how restricted the sale of dragon eggs really was, Hagrid had to know that it there was something shady going on. The story was really unbelievable if you think about it. Dragon eggs are worth more than mansions in the black market. It was very unlikely that someone would bet one in a pub in Hogsmeade of all things.
Still, McGonagall had caught the golden trio with a caged baby dragon and ended up losing a stupid amount of house points, according to the Malfoy scion at least. Apparently, he was the one who set them up or something. He kept pretending it was some sort of elaborate scheme while all he did was follow them around and tattle to a teacher about it.
Well, Longbottom was very angry about it. It would explain the rise in malicious pranks that has been going on for a week or so.
Harry had found the pressure point and kept digging at it, “Oh, so that’s it. You’re angry because it’s not fair. You helped your friends, like a good Gryffindor was supposed to do, protected the school, prevented him from getting hurt, and you were punished for it.”
Longbottom stopped being coherent anymore and just kept sending spell after spell at Harry, who shielded with a Contego. The spells simply washed away on Harry’s shield. The dueling practice really did help his speed and stability of his spells.
By the end of it, Longbottom was gasping in exertion and Harry continued talking casually, “You’re not angry at me. I’m just a convenient target. You’re angry at the Professors, at Dumbledore, who let Snape of all people be a referee to your game, who made you get punished when things would have been worse if you hadn’t done what you did. But you can’t hex them, can you. You can’t yell at them, so you yell at the people you’re expected to hate. The Slytherins. Me.”
“How dare you…” Weasley tried to speak, only for Harry to wave his wand and murmur, “Flipendo!”
The group of first years were pushed back slightly. Harry had made sure to underpower the spell, but they still fell over.
“Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom” Harry heard a severe voice coming from behind him. It was Professor McGonagall, “My office, now!”
Harry ignored Longbottom’s sulky look and followed the professor. He shouldn’t have been so riled up because of him. But Longbottom kept actively looking for him, and after the first few times it was getting irritating.
The two students followed the professor to her office. When they were inside, she motioned them to take a seat and they did.
“Do you know why you’re here, Mr. Potter,” the Professor asked him.
Neville started to answer, “Professor…”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Longbottom. I’ll deal with you later. Believe me, you’re in enough trouble already,” the transfiguration mistress answered her student who gulped. She then turned back to the young Slytherin, “So, I ask you again, Potter, do you know why you’re here?”
“No,” he simply answered.
“You do not? Well, as you well know casting magic in the corridors is prohibited,” the Professor started.
“And yet Longbottom cast dozens of spells at me, while I used two, one of which was a shield. I don’t know why you’re singling me out here,” Harry interrupted her.
“Yes, and he will be punished accordingly but unlike Longbottom, I expect you to act like a proper polite young wizard. You rarely let yourself be provoked as you were. So, why now?”
“He just wouldn’t leave me alone, professor. Every couple of days, he just does his best to follow me, like he’s trying to achieve something. After the first five times, I found that ignoring him just doesn’t make him go away, so this was my alternative,” Harry retorted.
The Longbottom scion’s cheeks were almost as red as Weasley’s hair. He tried to retort back and yet was silenced by a glare from the transfiguration mistress.
“You say that, and yet you’re still trying to provoke him. You really should not treat your classmates this way, especially in front of a Professor.”
“No, what shouldn’t have happened is Longbottom minding his own business. I am entitled to feel safe in this castle. This is not some battleground; this is a school. And I should be free to walk around without fearing being cursed in the back, and study without looking for dung bombs everywhere I sit. I tried being civil, I tried ignoring him entirely, I tried being witty. If Longbottom only responds to violence, then that’s what he’ll get. And it’s not just me. The upper years are getting sick of their little brothers and sister coming back with no hair or smelling horribly. And they will not be as considerate as to only send an underpowered pushback spell at him and his little gang.”
The Professor seemed mournful for a second, “And Mr. Longbottom was punished for every single transgression. I will admit that our punishments do not seem to deter him. He and his friends will serve detention until the end of the semester. Him and Weasley are really stressing our patience here and are this close to being expelled.”
She finished answering while slowly looking at the shaking Gryffindor.
“Then why don’t you just contact his grandmother?”
The boy just gave his head of house a pleading look, and actually started shaking. McGonagall shook her head, “I am not here to speak about Longbottom’s punishment with you, but your own. You will serve your detention with him and his friends next Sunday.”
Harry just nodded and left her office, hearing the professor start tearing into the young Gryffindor, “As for you, Longbottom…”
When he made his way to the Great Hall, he found out that dinner was over, and he simply decided to simply go to back to the common room. His friends were waiting for him, and they ranted with him at the unfairness of the situation. It was just nice to have people in your corner. By the time he went to bed, he had almost forgotten all about Longbottom and McGonagall, having been distracted while hanging out with his friends.
As usual, his sleep was peaceful until something happened. In the middle of the night, Harry heard something scream. Something horrible had happened. He looked around and saw that no one seemed bothered by it. No one seemed to hear it in the first place. The screaming persisted during the night, and Harry didn’t get a whiff of sleep because of it.
AN:
For those who are saying that this is turning into a bashing fic because of how McGonagall is acting. It should be a little better explained in the next chapter, but McGonagall isn't really being hypocritical. Harry doesn't have a clear view of the situation. You need to remember that reincarnation or not, he's still the student in this situation. You'll see what I mean in the next chapter, and you'll also understand why I went in this direction.
Comments
athass_prkr
I ended up changing it a little. I was planning on making it some unspoken rule of Gryffindor that punishments be done privately, and that she would have called Neville back later and laid into him, but changed my mind when I saw how many people just disliked this on principle. I guess it's not going to count as a spoiler since I'm not doing it anymore but yeah, that was the plan for this tidbit. Yeah, I know it's my story and everything, but it was such a small detail that I didn't really care about, that would have at best ended up being an easter egg somewhere in the next few chapters, especially since I'm starting something big in them. So, I just changed it a little just to make sure people don't misunderstand where I was going.
Astral Aion
Not sure if we read different drafts or not but what I read had McG call both Harry and Neville away then she punished Harry for breaking the rules because it’s a fact he did break rules wether it was self defence or not and his punishment was simply a detention for 1 evening no biggie there and then she began to scold Neville after which is normal since they have already deducted house points and given him detention for the foreseeable future the only other real option is to expel him which they obviously can’t do as he is the BWL as for your talk about how to write a story of what you said about choosing an ending and writing to achieve that ending making a story bad was true then Harry Potter must suck since JKR wrote the ending first before anything else although I will admit you were right about it being something that can limit the potential of a story by confining characters to a set path instead of the paths they would choose based of their own character design if the author isn’t careful overall I think your hating a great deal unnecessarily about it being cleared up in a later chapter which is something common for any story posted in small bite sized chunks like this one
Dull Pen
Personally, I do not even care about Neville, I just want him gone. Why would I care about some spoiled kid? It sounds like you are making Nev the main character of the story even. He is the one who was raised as the hero, but is instead a spoiled brat, and you want him to overcome that conflict... so what the heck is Harry doing in this story?
Dull Pen
athass_prkr, you mean the first year points he gave? How is that being favoring a student? The kid was involved in a murder! That is just cliche harry potter fandom theories, the most popular one among the Dumbles bashing crowd in fact, along with "for the greater good!" tropes, of Dumbles raising HP as a sacrifice because he was unable to get rid of the Horcrux otherwise, or believing a kid could do anything BUT die to Voldemort, so never even trying to train him, help him in any way. Again, those are tropes and fan theories. But for every such theory there is a contradictory one. You shouldn't base your writing on fan theories from the fandom. It should be instead based on the writing itself. The reason why kids become like this is because teachers and parents treat them special or different then others. And that is the whole issue I mentioned. You WANT to make Neville be a spoilt kid, and you are making the characters give him special treatment... the issue, is the WAY you are handling it. It is unrealistic. You are forcing characters into neat little boxes for them to be able to act a certain way. Why did McG only call on Harry? Why is she saying he should be more mature? In real life, what should instead happen is that either: - McG ignores Harry's side completely, says something like "well that is not what I saw Mr. Potter", because it wouldn't be the first time a kid went "but but.. he started it!". This did not happen, since she knows Harry is too smart to do that. - McG ignores Harry's side, saying something like "Mr. Potter, I know Neville well, he would not attack someone without reason". So her being clearly on Nevs side, for whatever reason. Neither happened. Instead she saw Potter attacking, called him out. Harry answered he was defending himself, and she calls him to talk in private. Where she basically admits she knows he did not start it, nor was he the only one involved. Yet only punishes him, while also clearly saying this. People do not do that. They do not go "yes, I know you are right child, now go do sit in the corner for an hour". When punishing someone they have to feel in the right, because basic human emotions demand it. Either by lying to yourself or doing actions that would be contradictory to the situation. She should have rather let them all go with a warning, or punished all of them lightly, or when being called out by Harry, either gotten defensive, or again, just told him to leave to get out of the situation and put it into her "mentally ignore" pile. This is the issue with it. The same issue many of your characters are having. Whataboutism isn't a normal reaction for people to have. Unless you are psychopath or a politician, this way of handling conflict is NOT normal. And even when they aren't using whataboutism, you do not give clear cause and effect when it comes to peoples actions. For example, Nev and Draco being obsessed with each other. Yes, you came up with a logical reason why, and why they involve Harry. Yes, Nev might have been hurt that this kid that he imagined as is best friend would ignore him, but... Why would the kid go after him constantly? Especially when Harry ignored him initially? He acts like the abused part in a romantic relationship, even though he gets hurt by the other, he goes back to him? That only happens when people get attached to someone a lot. Nev only just met Harry this year, sure, maybe he had the idea of it. But... when a kid say, wants to know their dad, that left them. They might imagine it in a thousand ways. But if their meeting ends up being disappointing they do not keep going back over and over hoping for a different outcome. Are they cases where people are actually this stubborn? Yes. Would Nev's reason and personality fit it? No. It would be far more realistic for Nev to basically ignore Harry, as if didn't exist. This kind of calling him names... that is not how people and their feelings and actions work. Draco, in canon, did not hound Harry because he wanted to become his friend and got hurt at the start. He hounded him because his pride got damaged, because he was thought that he gets what he wants and when he does not he should try harder, he bullied Harry with names like "Scarface" because that would make him feel better, because if you have low self esteem, or, if you value yourself by comparing your standing to others, then yeah, putting others down is how you make yourself feel better. Draco didn't do it because he liked Harry as a person, Harry probably wasn't much of a person in his mind, but just a thing, the Boy Who Lived, who looks down on him, and such. That was my point, and while you say "it will be cleared up next chapter"... This is not something you can clear up, at least I believe so. You say it yourself, you wanted to write a story were Nev is a spoiled child and you "fix him". Yeah well, that is now how characters work. You do not set out to write a character they want them to be. They are shaped by the world, their actions, other people and other people's actions. And it can be felt. Characters aren't acting in a natural way because you make them do something to fit this specific plot you want to execute, then go and try to resolve WHY they did this, instead of them doing something because of that WHY to being with. And it shows in the writing. And that is the issue. You set out to write a certain character, this is how he starts with and this is how it ended. And that is the issue. You do not start off with "I'll write a story about how a kid who has his parents murdered, turns into a hero to make sure nobody loses his parents again". No, you can start off with a kid like that, and sure, you might end up with a hero.... But the issue is you set out what your character is going to be from the get go, completely limiting what and how everything should happen to him and how he should react. Not only would the writing be bad from the get go, but who would want to read a story where the end result is already set? The whole point of reading a story is to enjoy the path to the end. Be it a kid who got his parents murdered, becomes a hero, or becomes also a murderer who hunts other murders, or just becomes a murderer due to mental scarring, or just becomes a normal person, by overcoming his past and living the best life he can live. Or something completely different. I don't know what the story would be, but whatever it is I'd like to read it... the way you are handling characters is just wrong from the get go.
Dull Pen
Salokin, the issue with your post is "we might presume a similar meeting with Longbottom will be coming". We should not presume this. We should have seen it this chapter. We had two students being found, one attacking the other, so unless one needs to go the hospital, the fact McG ONLY picked up Harry to talk to directly is already an issue, anyone doing proper conflict resolution be it among adults or in school, knows you pick everyone involved and question them, if possible separately to find out the truth. That is simply realistic and good handling of school conflicts. You do not take the first kid you THINK might be responsible, and take him for questioning, then not even question him but clearly state it is his fault for not being responsible enough (even though there is no reason for him being expected to be more responsible). And ignore the others involved. You are implying she ignore Nev, put will go find him later? Why? Why would she not pick him up right away, but instead go search for him around the castle later? Makes no sense...
athass_prkr
McGonagall isn't really being antagonistic. It's really hard to explain without giving away too much but she's as strict with Neville as she was with Harry. This is just Harry's point of view of it. The Neville antagonism is kinda understandable which I'm going to explore soon. But as for the Abbott kid, it's very understandable. The fire of Godric's Hollow will be a major plot point and this is just me laying the groundwork. You have to understand that Harry isn't really known. In fact, the only people who know him are either because of the fire or because of personally knowing his parents. Most people are apathetic towards him, but the ones who care without meeting him will either be disappointed because he's been sorted in Slytherin, not care and care for him anyway, or blame him for the fire (Which is a very big deal.)
athass_prkr
Yeah, and they'll be consequences for that. In Canon, Dumbledore massively favoured Harry, especially with the whole thing with the points at the end of the year. Sure they weren't bullies like Neville, but Ron had it in him, to be honest. Neville is pretty much what I see any extremely spoilt kid becoming. He's not an antagonist in this story. I want to slowly redeem him as he learns his place in the world. His actions will have consequences, and Hermione will be the first to call him on his bullshit. I'll try not to spoil anything, but that's the direction I'm going for. So, yeah, like I said, I don't want to make a one-dimensional story. I like that you're being critical, to be honest, but you kinda misunderstood what I'm going for. Just wait for the next 2 chapters and you'll understand what I'm trying to do.
Salokin
Ron just wants to be friends with the BWL, and bailed on Harry multiple times. If Harry was a bully in cannon Ron would have followed along behind him and egged him on imho, especially first year. Ron was definitely a bully in cannon, its just that he bullied (mostly) other bullies. BWL!Longbottom has quite a bit of WBWL energy, like he was raised as a celebrity child who has never really been told "no" before, and with a piece of a dark lord on his forehead. BWL!Potter was an abused child, who wanted to be treated as something called "normal" despite that being impossible, with a piece of a dark lord on his forehead. Maybe Neville will chill out second year, although I suspect that Harry being acused of being "heir of Slytherin" will still happen.
Gummyking2
Not really cause Harry and Ron weren’t bullies in canon. They stuck to their own business most of the time, unless it was regarding the stone. No one had a problem with Neville being on the quidditch team like the traditional canon favoritism. Harry and Ron never went up randomly to people and tried to attack them.
Salokin
Considering some of the early decisions and world building were more "making sense" I am convinced that the author is showing Dumbledore blatantly favouring Neville and Gryffindor House is kind of cannon. McG's stance of "not here to talk about Longbottom" is reasonable~ish for a teacher to take considering this is a one-on-one with Potter and we might presume a similar meeting with Longbottom will be coming. But yeah, it makes more sense if we assume this is what the first book might look like if the Gold3 are not the pov for all of these events.
Gummyking2
I think the story is just starting to feel strange because almost everyone is actively antagonistic towards Harry. He has main character enemies/energy that shouldn’t be there. Like either I missed it or it wasn’t explained but everyone’s after Harry. Montague cause of jealousy, Ron/Neville for no apparent reason, the Abbott kid who blames his parents deaths on Harry, Snape cause his dad, McG just for kicks, and on dumbledores/voldemorts radar. It just doesn’t feel like this Harry is living alongside the craziness of the story but an active participant.
athass_prkr
It should be a little better explained in the next chapter, but McGonagall isn't really being hypocritical. Harry doesn't have a clear view of the situation. You need to remember that reincarnation or not, he's still the student in this situation.
athass_prkr
It should be a little better explained in the next chapter, but McGonagall isn't really being hypocritical. Harry doesn't have a clear view of the situation. You need to remember that reincarnation or not, he's still the student in this situation.
athass_prkr
Not long, it should be over soon
Gummyking2
I also don’t understand how hermione can be friends with clear bullies.. like Ron openly mocked Harry’s dead parents on Christmas
Gummyking2
Well they said that the others already have detention for the rest of the year… but I agree, seems like the teachers are being unrealistically unreasonable
Dull Pen
This is getting unrealistic, in how much the characters are being made to support this plot. There is no logical way for McGonnagal to be, as Harry put it ,"willfully blind" as she is. This is just bad writing at this point. You want to tell a story where Harry and Nev the BWL are hating each other, so you are making it so even if it doesn't make sense for any character to behave to cause this situation. His grandmother should have already been called. Or at least he should have been given detention as well, but no McG only gives Harry detention because he should have "been better". In what universe does this make a lick of sense. Yes people do not always make sense... but generally they aren't stick figures, or cartoonishly evil either. At this point you are just bashing the teacher, from Snape being unfair in Quidditch to McG, to the headmaster... this is borderline a bashing fic now. At least you tried to explain the plot setup on why they are being lenient on Neville, but now even your explanations can cover characters behaving like this anymore.
Gummyking2
I didn’t think we’d see a hypocrite version of mcgonagall, she seemed reasonable earlier.
Karam
How much longer will you spend on year 1
