Chapter 8

"It's highly irresponsible you'll have to admit." said Headmaster Dippet scowling

"Now Headmaster, without some proof_" spluttered Horace beseechingly, mentally cursing few of his hot-blooded snakes for his current dilemma.

"Proof?" asked Albus quietly, making Horace start.

"From where the devil did you come from Albus! I didn't notice your entrance."

Albus leveled him with a piercing stare, one that hid not a spark of warmth in them," I just came back from the Wing, I saw the boy's condition Horace. I assure you his word is all the proof we'll ever need, to know the culprits."

"The names Albus," Professor Merrythought prompted

"He's still unconscious,but I suspect the Black twins as well as Mr Lestrange's hand in this." answered Prorfessor Binns for Albus

"Now Binns just because they set that cracker going in your class three years ago!" grumbled Horace, left eye twitching

"Ah ha! So it was them wasn't it! And you, you hypocritical_"

"Enough! We shall refrain from digging up the past for the moment!" thundered Dippet, alarmed by the immature behavior exhibited by two of his oldest faculty members.

"He supports them, has done before, and will always! A slytherin to the last inch of slippery skin_"

"Cuthbert Binns, you have regressed to your eleven year old self with the complex." reprimanded Merrythought restraining Binns raised wand arm with a flick of her own wand.

Headmaster Dippet tiredly rubbed his throbbing nose in exasperation before taking an experimental look towards the Transfiguration Professor. Albus' face was set in a hard line. Merlin, was the entire faculty fond of the boy?

Rancorous Carpe came banging in just then, "Got Mr Evans wand Headmaster!" he announced gleefully, "Won't be performing anymore mistletoe tricks, he won't!"

There, there was one.

Cygna's face was a mixture of fear and confusion.

"It wasn't meant to go that far Tom. Truly I mean it!" she swore, braving herself to look at Tom's cold eyes.

"Wasn't meant to, Cygna..." Tom asked lightly, absently fingering the cloth of the room's pale curtains.

"What she means to say is that it couldn't have gone the way it did." said Lyracus, a fleeting expression of brotherly concern passing through his usually calm mask.

Tom remained silent for a moment, "Unless...someone else interfered."

"Exactly." Nott said trying to quell his shaking fingers, "We only meant to rough him up a bit. We stuck to the plan Tom, till the very end."

Because they all knew one thing for certain. Tom wasn't done with mudblood. No one had the right to take pieces of Evans until Tom was done with him.

"Well, then," their leader's mouth tugged into a light smile, " Why may I ask, are you in my presence without him?"

Nott's face shared identical expression with Cygna, as he slowly nodded his head to convey an understanding he did not feel.

"We'll find the one who interfered Tom." assured Lyracus, "We'll find him before the Professors do."

"I want him here now." Tom replied, giving Lyracus a sharp look, "It shouldn't be that difficult, for I know my friend, that you have figured out his identity just as well as I have."

"I have." Lyracus said softly, lowering his eyes and moving towards the Common's exit.

"Take these ignorant fools too,enlighten them to the folly of their plans." said Tom, scorn seeping into his tone as he turned to head back to the dorms.

"Oh he didn't." murmured Caius finally realizing

"Who is the "he"?" questioned Cygna impatiently, her fear having left with Tom.

"I'd say we were partly responsible for it." said Caius ignoring Cygna and catching up to Lyracus and giving the Black twin a weak smile.

"Why does Tom care so much_" started Cygna

"It's not only about Evans, sweet twin." interrupted Lyracus, "We allowed a fool to fool us by making us the scapegoat to his plans."

"Whose the blasted fool may I know?" asked Nott, annoyance crossing his face.

The Hospital Wing had few sleepers, and in the far corner, a covered figure awoke, moans choking through his throat. The Healer gave Verita a silent refusal and bid her leave.

"He's right there." her whisper carried, "He's awake...look he's...moving his hand, I thought you said..."

"If you do not leave this instant Miss_" the furious whispers of the Healer were drowned by a hoarse voice

"Is it true?" demanded Verita, eyes wet with angry tears

The healer had an impassive look on her face as she regarded the three students.

"What the Slytherins did to him, did they really..." Nathaniel gulped uneasily

"Did they what?"

Weasley looked green, "Did those slimy snakes cut his hand?"

The Healer fixed him with a firm gaze, "Leave."

"It was Malfoy, I just know it." said Septimus looking at Verita and Nathaniel

A moan escaped from the corner

"Harry." said Nathaniel dodging the healer as he made a beeline towards his friend's bed. He was abruptly levitated away before he could even reach the side table and harshly deposited on the hard floor.

"Crouch, It was Crouch." Harry's pained voice carried.

"Mr Evans please, your throat needs rest after all the swallowing it has done."

"Verita_" whispered Harry, coughing a little

"Right here." said Verita hurriedly inserting herself beside his bed, a good length away from the matron, "Don't worry Harry, I'm going to make sure the Professors know it was Crouch's dirty work."

"Riddle, him too_" Harry whispered, voice turning rougher with every word

"Right,_"

"Mr Evans, the names of your culprits can wait." said the matron sharply

"and his cohorts_"

Verita stilled, "Harry don't..." she said alarmed at the thin line of dark blood trailing down his cheek.

"Leave." ordered the matron , as she forced a deep green liquid down his throat

"I_"

"You are disturbing me, girl. I might end up giving him the wrong potion because of it."

And Verita left after squeezing Harry's icy fingers one last time. Why didn't they warm him yet? she wondered, or was it a Healer thing?