Pariah

Chapter one

-Harry-

-On top of astronomy tower-

"Hagrid are you sure we had permission to be here?" Harry asked as Charlie and the rest left with Nobertn Hermione turned eagerly to the conversation.

"Of course, 'arry I'm part of the faculty and can give you permission to be out now you two run off to bed." Hagrid replied reasuringly.

Nodding Hermione and Harry left Hagrid and headed down the stairs to go to bed.

-In front of Professor Mcgonagall-

"I would never have believed it of any of you. Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves." Professor Mcgonogall yelled at them furiously.

Harry stared confused, Hagrid had said they had permission to join him on the tower had he been mistaken? Snapping out of his confusion he rushed to explain. " Professor we thought we had permission. Hagrid said-".

Professor McGonagall's eyes narrowed. "Hush! Don't you dare drag Hagrid into this fabrication Mr. Potter. I think I've got a good idea of what's been going on. It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon, trying to get him out of bed and into trouble. I've already caught him. I suppose you think it's funny that Longbottom here heard the story and believed it, too?" she practically snarled at them.

"Professor that's not-" Hermione tried to explain.

"Silence Miss Granger. I'm disgusted," said Professor McGonagall. "Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter, I thought Gryffindor meant more to you than this. All three of you will receive detentions — yes, you too, Mr. Longbottom, nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days, it's very dangerous — and fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor."

"Fifty?" Harry gasped. They hadn't done anything wrong!

"Fifty points each," said Professor McGonagall, breathing heavily through her long, pointed nose.

"Professor — please —" Harry stuttered.

"We had —" Hermione begged.

" Now get back to bed, all of you. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students." Mcgonogall finished pointing angrily at the door.

-Two weeks later-

Over the last two weeks the story over her lost points had gotten different with every telling, from running naked around the school to being found casting bordering dark spells on Ron.

With each new story the ferocity of the students attacks against them renewed. Hagrid had tried to tell Professor McGonagall the truth. All it had caused was another twenty points to be removed against him for asking Hagrid to lie apparently.

He had been hexed so badly that he spent more time in the infirmary than out, quidditch was terrible because for the first week Oliver made him practice an extra two hours each sesson. The chasers would ram into him and throw the quaffle at the back of his head. The twins didn't bother to protect him from bludgers, though that had changed when Ron heard, he had screamed at the twins and explained everything. Now at least the twins tried their best to protect him from Bludgers and his team mates now. Though Harry hadn't forgiven them yet.

Harry had finally given up on his house cooling off and was now standing in front of Professor McGonagall to ask for help. Though he wasn't expecting much.

Harry seeing her impatient stare began "Professor, over the last two weeks I've been attacked by my school mates. I've gone to Madam Pomphrey forty-six times. I've been literally knocked off my broom ten times by my own team mates. There have been four attempts to get into my trunk. A-" he was suddenly cut off.

"Mr. Potter! I never believed there would be a time where I would be ashamed to have a student in my house. I'm disgusted to have such a bald faced liar attend this school. First you try to get others in trouble for your own amusement! Then you get Hagrid to try to cover for you! NOW YOU TRY DESIGN SOME STORY ABOUT MY TRUE LIONS! LIKE ONE OF MY LIONS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE HONOR UNLIKE YOU WOULD RUTHLESSLY ATTACK A CHILD!" Professor McGonagall took a calming breath though her face was still white in rage. Her next words were like ice, "If you put one toe out of line for the rest of this year. Let it be known that you will finish your education elsewhere. I will not take points from you only because I will not punish those deserving the Gryffindor colors for you insolence."

Eyes filled with tears Harry left the room. He felt nothing but hurt and betrayal.

-One Week Later-

Harry was walking toward the Common Room when suddenly he was pulled into an empty classroom. Harry gasped in pain as small cuts appeared all over his body.

Looking up he saw two seventh year Gryffindor students. The blond one was lowering his wand while the brunett raised his.

"So Nick what is it this ponce did again?" The blonde spoke tauntingly.

"I don't know Edmund. Didn't he torture that Malfoy kid?" The now identified Nick spoke amused.

"Really? I heard he tried to rape that Granger girl. Whatever it is it had to be pretty bad to lose around hundred and seventy points." Edmund snarled.

"Little whelp deserves a lesson doesn't he? How about this Jafacious!" Suddenly it felt as if someone was choking him. Just as everything went black he heard horrified gasps.

Waking up he realized he was in a hospital bed opening his eyes he saw he was surrounded by Ron, the Twins, McGonagall, Pomphrey, and the Weasleys and Hermione who looked to have been crying.

Dumbledore was the first to speak" Harry, the ones who did this will be facing charges. Madam Pomphrey has conveyed that while not on this scale you have come her many times for attacks. May I ask why you didn't tell anybody?"

Harry turned a glare at the guilty face of his Head of House, "If you had asked Professor McGonagall. You would have found that I did. Although I was degraded for it and called a liar again. "

Dumbledore's visage was furious as he turned towards McGonagall. "Explain!" he thundered.

McGonagall flinched before speaking "Well, when Mr. Potter came to me about students I had never known to be violent attacking him; I thought he was fabricating another story.".

Dumbledore's eyes seemed to grow colder as calm like voice rang out, "I sent a missive three weeks ago verifying Harry's story. Amazing what a pensieve can do right Minerva? Both of his stories were true and even if it was a lie you have an obligation to have checked out his story of being attack no matter how ludicrous you find it. This better be handled correctly by the end of this month. If not-"

Dumbledore abruptly stopped and marched out of the room. Everyone else was staring in disgust at the Professor as she walked out the door.

-Three Days later-

Harry stood stone faced as he waited for Professor McGonagall to speak. Her voice soft and riddled with horrified guilt she began, "Every student involved has had their parent summoned to talk of the matter. The majority have been suspended, others will have detentions for the next two years, and a few have been expelled. I've told everyone why you lost points and how wrong I was to take them. To make up to you for this injustice you will be given your own room, will be awarded three hundred points, will be allowed into certain parts of the restricted section, and be allowed to have Hogsmead visits starting next year." Sitting there Harry absorbed all he had been told. Getting up he headed towards the door.

Hand on the knob he stopped for the Professors last words, "Harry, I hope someday you can forgive me so that there is no worry for you to come to me about anything.".

Harry opened the door but decided to leave a final parting shot, "Ma'am you don't have to worry about me coming to you unforgiven." McGonagall's face lit only to fall at his next statement "Quite frankly, you will be the last person I come to if I come at all. Oh, and it's Mr. Potter to you." With that he slammed the door behind him not caring about the sobbing he heard from the room he had left.

Walking down to the Great Hall Harry walked over to Oliver Wood who was making notes in a journal for upcoming games. "Mr. Wood do you have a moment?" Harry asked formally not caring at the wince he saw on the quiditch captians face when he heard how he had addressed him.

"Of course Harry. Listen sorry about that whole mess a few weeks ago. Now I wanted to show you these…" Wood started before Harry held up a hand cutting him off.

"I'm here to hand in my resignation from the team Wood." Harry told him coldly while giving Wood a scroll that had his official resignation on it.

"What! You can't do that! We need you to play!" Wood yelled in a mixture of panic and anger.

"Then you should have thought about that BEFORE you and the rest of the team spent your time abusing me. I will never play for you again wood." and with that Harry walked off. They had turned on him, made him an outcast; fine if that is what they wanted then that is what he would be, an outcast… a loner… a pariah.