Chapter 133: Chapter 133: "Repercussions and Waning Fame"
By the following morning, news of the troll incident had spread throughout the entire school. The tale of the night's events spread rapidly, fueled by the accounts shared by Harry's friends in their respective common rooms. They had not been instructed to keep the encounter confidential and felt no need to hold back the details. By the time breakfast rolled around, every student at Hogwarts was abuzz with the story.
In the Great Hall, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and a hint of fear as students eagerly discussed the incident. The hall buzzed with loud, continuous chatter as groups of students exchanged their versions of what happened, each retelling embellished with a bit more drama than the last.
"Did you hear? Charles and Ron faced the troll and are now in the hospital wing!" a first-year Gryffindor whispered excitedly to his friend.
"I heard Harry Potter killed the troll and saved everyone!" a third-year Hufflepuff responded, her voice filled with admiration and awe.
Unfortunately for Harry, this newfound fame was not without its drawbacks. His decisive actions in dealing with the troll had elevated his status overnight, leading to an increased admiration from his peers. This adoration, typical of the wizarding world's tendency to idolize heroes, resulted in whispers about fan clubs being organized in his honor—an attention Harry found uncomfortable and unwelcome, yet something he felt powerless to prevent.
At the High Table, the professors sat with serious looks on their faces, occasionally glancing at Dumbledore, who was unusually quiet. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and it intensified when a flood of owls suddenly swooped into the hall, dropping a heap of letters and howlers.
The letters, many from concerned parents, landed in front of their respective children. These parents were eager to know if their children were safe after the night's events. Now, the students had the task of writing back to reassure their families that they were indeed safe and unharmed.
However, the bulk of the correspondence, including several loud howlers, was aimed at Dumbledore. The voices of angry parents echoed through the hall, criticizing him for not ensuring the safety of their children.
"How could you let this happen, Headmaster?" one voice boomed out.
"We were promised Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain," another parent's voice shouted.
"We need an explanation!" demanded yet another.
The cacophony was overwhelming. In response, Dumbledore calmly raised his wand, and with a swift flick, he made all the letters and howlers disappear, instantly quieting the noisy hall. Without saying a word, he then stood up and quietly left the Great Hall.
His departure left a room full of students and teachers silently exchanging worried glances, wondering about the implications of the recent events.
Harry, sitting at the Ravenclaw table, unfolded the day's edition of the Daily Prophet. The front-page headline was sensational: "Troll Attack at Hogwarts! The Boy Who Lived Injured!"
The article provided a detailed account of the previous night's events, emphasizing the injuries sustained by Charles and floating various conspiracy theories that dark wizards might be targeting the Boy Who Lived. Harry was relieved that his own actions hadn't been highlighted prominently in the report; the last thing he wanted was an influx of fan mail to deal with.
Following breakfast, the atmosphere within the castle was electric with discussions about the newspaper article and the flood of letters from concerned parents. Later in the afternoon, officials from the Ministry of Magic arrived to conduct an inquiry. They questioned Dumbledore and the Hogwarts staff with a series of probing and uncomfortable questions about the security breach.
They wanted to know how a troll could have entered the school grounds, given there were no known troll colonies nearby, how it managed to bypass the strong magical wards around Hogwarts, and how it roamed the castle without being detected sooner.
The biggest question was why Dumbledore had permitted students to leave the Great Hall for their dormitories knowing there was a troll loose in the castle. The Ministry officials were particularly worried about the implications of Charles, the Boy Who Lived, getting injured during the incident. The Daily Prophet had wasted no time spinning various conspiracy theories about dark wizards plotting to harm him.
Harry learned through the grapevine that James and Lily Potter, along with Ron's parents, had visited the hospital wing early that morning. A series of heated discussions had reportedly taken place, with Dumbledore facing criticism over his management of the situation.
James and Lily were extremely upset about Charles getting hurt. After Harry had chosen to sever ties with them, they had poured more attention and affection into Charles. This incident left them deeply shaken, and they even considered moving Charles to another school for his safety. Dumbledore had to work hard to persuade them otherwise.
Dumbledore received a flood of letters and howlers every morning for the following few days, criticizing his actions and accusing him of endangering the students. The situation escalated to the point where the Ministry of Magic considered sending a team of Aurors to conduct a thorough investigation.
However, Dumbledore acted swiftly to avoid Ministry intervention. He compiled a detailed investigation report and sent it to the Ministry, which was then published in the Daily Prophet.
The report squarely blamed Professor Quirrell, revealing that the troll had been Quirrell's pet, which he had brought back from his travels the previous year and secretly kept in the Forbidden Forest. According to the report, Quirrell had used his privileges as a professor to sneak the troll past Hogwarts' magical protections, intending it to protect him from vampire attacks. On Halloween, the troll had escaped, and Quirrell, unable to control it, had run to Dumbledore for help.
Harry wasn't shocked to learn that Quirrell was found so quickly. Even in the canon, Dumbledore should have realized from the beginning that Quirrell was behind the troll incident. It was quite obvious because Quirrell had used trolls as obstacles in the third-floor corridor trap, where each professor was responsible for setting up their own challenge.
Given that the troll was part of Quirrell's setup, other professors might have been able to connect the dots as well. It makes one wonder why Quirrell wasn't caught or punished earlier in the canon.
Quirrell accepted full responsibility for the incident, and the punishment decided by Dumbledore was that Quirrell would not continue at Hogwarts after this year and that his salary would be withheld.
Dumbledore's reason for not dismissing Quirrell immediately and pursuing legal action was that no one had been seriously injured, which weakened any potential case against him. Moreover, finding a replacement Defense Against the Dark Arts professor mid-year would have been difficult. Dumbledore assured the Ministry that Professor Snape would closely monitor Quirrell to prevent any further trouble.
Surprisingly, these assurances seemed sufficient for the wizarding community. The barrage of angry letters and howlers directed at Dumbledore soon stopped, turning instead towards Quirrell. Within a week, the commotion had largely died down, with no arrests made or further actions taken.
This outcome might have been a testament to Dumbledore's influential standing in the wizarding world or just another example of the peculiar nature of the wizarding community.
Harry speculated about the nature of the meeting between Dumbledore and Quirrelmort that led to Quirrel agreeing to accept blame and punishment. It seemed odd yet convenient; Quirrell could remain at Hogwarts to continue his search for the Philosopher's Stone, while Dumbledore could keep an eye on Quirrelmort, potentially leading him to confront Charles.
With the troll incident resolved, Hogwarts returned to its normal rhythm. Classes resumed their usual schedule, and Quidditch practices picked up pace.
The aftermath of the troll incident had an unexpected effect on Charles's standing among his peers. Previously, he had been seen as a celebrity within Hogwarts due to his supposed abilities and the grand tales told about him in books. However, perceptions began to shift significantly after the incident.
Many students started to realize that the stories they had read might have been greatly exaggerated, particularly as Charles, who was rumored to be capable of handling a dragon, struggled significantly with the troll and ended up in the hospital.
Gradually, Charles's popularity and special status started to diminish. Students began to notice that beyond a few spells, his skills were quite ordinary. In subjects like Herbology and Potions, his performance was average or even below average. It became clear that his earlier prowess in magic was likely due to practice at home, something not uncommon among children from influential wizarding families. As it turned out, Charles was not the prodigy many had believed him to be.
With no real advantage seen in being close to him, his yearmates started to pull away from his somewhat arrogant demeanor.
Charles was forced to adjust to being just another student at Hogwarts. He found himself having to complete his schoolwork without the help of eager seniors, a challenge that proved tough for both him and Ron.
Despite these challenges, the troll incident did lead to a positive turn in Charles's relationships. Hermione, whom Charles and Ron had saved from the troll, decided to forgive them and give them another chance at friendship. Grateful for their help and eager to break away from her own isolation, Hermione quickly became close with the two boys.
With Hermione's help in their studies, the golden trio was formed, bonding them closely.
As time moved on and the troll incident faded into the background, the excitement at Hogwarts began to build again with the onset of the Quidditch season. The school buzzed with anticipation and enthusiasm, looking forward to the upcoming matches that would bring a different kind of thrill to their school days.
Chapter 134: Chapter 134: "The Rise and Fall on the Quidditch Pitch"
The opening game of the Quidditch season was a match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, sparking an electric atmosphere filled with anticipation. The rivalry between these two houses was well-known throughout Hogwarts, yet this game was particularly charged with excitement. This was due in part to Charles Potter, the youngest chaser ever at Hogwarts and the first first-year to play in official house matches, making his debut. Despite his popularity having dipped following the troll incident, this game was viewed as his opportunity to showcase his unique talents and reaffirm his special status.
The stands were packed with students, and Harry sat among them with his friends. He would have preferred to spend his time elsewhere, but he had promised himself to attend all major events of the canon to ensure nothing went wrong. After the troll incident, he was determined to keep a close eye on things to ensure nothing unexpected happened.
Cedric leaned over, trying to get Harry's attention. "How do you think your brother is going to perform?"
Harry shrugged, his gaze fixed on the field. "I don't know, I have never seen him play. However, his weak body against those rough Slytherins isn't going to be a fair matchup."
The Quidditch match kicked off with an explosion of energy. Gryffindor's chasers, Angelina and Alicia, started strong, playing with aggressive tactics and great teamwork that quickly put them ahead. The crowd erupted with cheers for every goal scored, adding to the thrilling atmosphere. With Lee Jordan, a friend of the Weasley twins, providing lively and humorous commentary, the match became even more entertaining.
However, the tone of the game soon shifted as it grew more intense and physical. The Slytherin players began using aggressive tackles that were almost fouls, making it increasingly difficult for Gryffindor's chasers to move forward and maintain their lead. This aggressive strategy allowed the Slytherin team to regain momentum and start scoring goals. Oliver Wood, Gryffindor's keeper, put up a valiant effort to block the shots, but the pressure was mounting.
Amidst all this, Charles was struggling to demonstrate his skills. The overwhelming pressure of performing well in front of a large crowd and proving his worth was visibly affecting him. His gameplay suffered considerably; he found it challenging to maintain possession of the quaffle, often losing it to rough tackles from Slytherin players. Every time he received the quaffle, he was quickly overpowered, and Slytherin regained control.
As the game progressed, Slytherin's lead grew stronger. Twenty minutes into the match, the score was already 100-40 in favor of Slytherin, leaving Gryffindor in a precarious position.
Then, the atmosphere of the game took a drastic turn. The crowd gasped in shock as Charles's broom began to spin uncontrollably, twirling over and over. Charles clung to it desperately, struggling to stay mounted. It seemed as though the broom had taken on a life of its own, defiantly ignoring Charles's commands and seemingly intent on throwing him off.
"Potter seems to have lost control of his broom. I guess the Gryffindors were wrong to use a first-year. Shows why no team in history had ever used a first-year player," Jordan announced, making it clear to those few who hadn't already noticed.
As Jordan's words echoed through the stands, all eyes turned toward Charles. The crowd began to murmur among themselves, speculating about what was going wrong.
Cedric, looking concerned, furrowed his brow. "What's happening to him? Is he just nervous, or could the broom have been damaged during one of those rough tackles?"
Roger shook his head, equally confused. "It's hard to tell. He might have just lost control, or maybe someone is messing with his broom. But that seems unlikely—he's riding a Nimbus Two Thousand, and those are really tough to tamper with."
Meanwhile, Harry watched silently, his focus on Professor Quirrell, who was intensely staring at Charles without blinking. Nearby, Snape was muttering what appeared to be a counter-curse under his breath. Harry recognized these developments; they were unfolding just as they had in the canon, so he wasn't particularly worried.
Despite the danger Charles was in, Harry chose not to intervene. He was confident that Dumbledore was keeping a close watch and would step in if Charles's safety was truly at risk.
Charles's battle with his broom dragged on for several tense minutes. During this distraction, the Slytherin team took full advantage of Gryffindor being a player down, scoring one goal after another. The imbalance on the field made the game heavily one-sided. Gryffindor supporters could only watch in despair as Slytherin widened their lead, feeling the sting of each goal scored against their team.
Just when things seemed bleak, Harry noticed a small puff of smoke rising from the area where the professors were seated. He suspected Hermione had taken action, just as she had in the canon. Quirrell's visibly angry expression confirmed Harry's guess. Shortly after, the jinx affecting the broom was lifted.
With the spell broken, Charles managed to regain control of his broom. His return to stable flight was met with loud cheers from the Gryffindor fans. However, their relief was short-lived. A Slytherin beater, seizing an opportunity as Charles tried to rejoin the game, struck a bludger directly at him. The bludger hit Charles's arm with a harsh thud, knocking him off his broom once again.
The crowd gasped in horror as Charles began to plummet toward the ground, but Madam Hooch acted swiftly, slowing his fall with her quick reflexes. It was clear, however, that Charles had broken his right arm in the incident. The injury was severe enough that he couldn't continue playing, and since team substitutions were not permitted, Gryffindor had to proceed with one less player.
Now at a severe disadvantage, Gryffindor struggled to keep up. Slytherin, already ahead, pressed their advantage aggressively, dominating the game.
All hopes were now pinned on Gryffindor's new seeker, Katie Bell, but although she spotted the Snitch several times, she struggled to maneuver herself to catch it. It looked obvious that she wasn't meant for the seeker position.
Ultimately, the Slytherin seeker seized the opportunity and caught the Snitch, clinching victory for their house. The final score stood at 380 to 60, marking a decisive defeat for Gryffindor.
As the game concluded and the teams exited the pitch, the mood among the Gryffindor players and supporters was gloomy. Charles was promptly taken to the hospital wing for treatment, and the rest of the team, disheartened by the day's events, slowly made their way back to their changing rooms.
Meanwhile, the stands buzzed with ongoing discussions and analysis of the game, as students continued to talk about the dramatic events they had just witnessed.
Harry felt a little sympathy for Charles. This was the boy's one chance at reclaiming some of the fame that he had lost, and due to Quirrelmort's actions, Charles couldn't shine in the game. If Dumbledore came out and said Charles's broom was jinxed by someone during the game, things would be a little better, but now to everyone, it looked like Charles got nervous and couldn't play his best in the game.
Harry knew Dumbledore well enough to understand that such a disclosure was unlikely. Therefore, it was up to Charles to prove himself in the next game if he wanted to restore his reputation.
As life at Hogwarts returned to normal in the following days, Harry continued to keep a watchful eye on Quirrell and the Forbidden Forest. For now, all was quiet; the acromantulas kept to themselves, and the unicorns remained unharmed.
Quirrell, meanwhile, was making no progress in his quest to reach the Stone, which suited Harry just fine. He preferred that Quirrell stay at Hogwarts for as long as possible. From Voldemort, Harry was learning a great deal about both light and dark magic. Although he wasn't ready to practice dark magic, he took to recording everything he learned in a book for potential future use.
Charles was busy too, trying to uncover the secrets of the third-floor corridor. Despite Harry's warnings to Neville to stay out of trouble, Neville was still worried about the safety of his classmates and friends.
Neville had taken to eavesdropping on their conversations, concerned they might venture into the dangerous third-floor corridor. One day, Neville shared with Harry that he had overheard Charles mentioning a search for someone named Nicholas Flamel and that the name of the three-headed dog was Fluffy.
Harry thanked Neville for this information and promised to keep an even closer watch on Charles and his friends to ensure they didn't get themselves into any dangerous situations.
Soon it was time for the Christmas vacation, and Harry signed up to go back home, although he had plans to return to the castle each night using the vanishing cabinet to keep a close eye on Quirrelmort. While he had the Marauder's Map, which was helpful, it didn't provide updates on the physical conditions of the people within the castle.
Harry knew he needed to be vigilant about any changes in Quirrell's condition. He had to inform the centaurs immediately if anything seemed wrong, especially if he was away from Hogwarts. The centaurs were relying on Harry's signal to start their patrols. If Quirrelmort caught them off guard and caused significant harm, it could severely damage Harry's relationship with the centaurs.
The Weasley children were staying at Hogwarts over the holidays just like in the canon, as their parents were traveling. Charles, however, felt a strong need to leave. He wanted to stay with his best friend Ron, but the recent events and the way people now perceived him at Hogwarts made him uncomfortable. He no longer enjoyed the way he was being treated and felt the need for the comfort his parents could provide.
Going home also meant attending the annual Ministry balls that the Potter family frequented, which Charles dreaded now. He planned to convince his parents to skip the events this year, citing his discomfort with reporters and the attention he might receive due to his waning popularity.
When the time finally came to leave, Harry, along with most of the students, departed Hogwarts for their homes, leaving behind those who had chosen to stay for various reasons. The castle quieted down significantly with many of its inhabitants away for the holidays.
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