Harry Potter was a coward.
Once upon a time he would have denied this, sought to prove his own bravery, like any 'good Gryffindor', fought the good fight as it were. But not now, not after what had happened.
Word had gotten around that the parents of the victims were allowed to visit their children. It was also through this announcement that he began to understand how screwed up the running of Hogwarts truly was.
Day to day business was for the Headmistress and staff, this was true, but big actions and decisions had to be voted on by the school board. Said group was larger than he would have imagined, being nearly thirty members in total. This meant a variety of opinions, and with most of their decisions requiring a clear majority, action was rarely taken.
Apparently, it was a surprise they managed to agree that 'letting parents see their injured kids' was important enough of a resolution to pass. The adults weren't allowed to stay, of course, but visitation rights were allowed outside of normal approved days.
He had been informed, naturally, that his own parents would be arriving to check on Harriet, and that was when his cowardice emerged. Instead of meeting them, along with Hermione's, he hid. He could have faced the consequences, suffered through the berating of how he had failed to protect them, how he had brought one catastrophe after another, but he didn't.
Harry didn't want to see their anger, their disdain, their hate.
After everything that had happened recently, he was sure that would be the final breaking point.
****
"This was not my intention."
The elderly woman didn't answer, merely continued packing up a few of the personal trinkets that were lying about her office. She knew it was going to happen, knew this result would be inevitable, but it still filled her with so many emotions it was hard to discern each one.
A letter had arrived from the Board, a decision made to appease both sides, along with the press.
Sadness, most certainly. Hogwarts had been not just a place of employment but a source of friendship and life fulfillment she had desperately needed.
Fear, of course. With both her and Riddle removed, the students would be far more vulnerable. She could only pray that Harry would leave the situation to the adults as she had begged him to do so. If it was concerning having a group of professors attempt to infiltrate the Chamber, then a schoolboy doing so would likely be damn near suicidal.
He had suffered enough; his family had suffered enough.
There was only a small twinge of hope that this would stop the attacks. But she had hoped before and had ended up disappointed.
A bit of anger as well. Yes, Serena was doing what she felt was best but deep down it still felt like a betrayal. In the end the professor had gone with her own mistrust rather than any sort of confidence in her colleagues.
"Augustina, I hope you understand."
This caused the Headmistress to pause and look over at the woman, remorse evident in the professor's eyes but not enough in her opinion. "I do understand."
"I had no choice in the matter. Students are being put in danger and nothing is being done."
Dumbledore nodded. It was true what she said. Far too many children had been harmed, far too many petrified to ignore. Had Albus Dumbledore fail in the same way she did?
Snape shifted a tad in discomfort, "I did not intend for you to be dismissed from the school."
"No, no of course not, but it certainly helped you achieve your goals did it not?" The woman's gaze snapped to her senior, eyes widening ever so slightly. Augustina didn't think she needed to explain the obvious, but she was wrong once again. "Your appointment as Head of Slytherin House. I'm sure that once a new Headmistress is brought in you will be able to make your case for Defense professor as well."
Serena quickly shook her head, "No, no that isn't what this is about."
The older witch tilted her head to the side, "Yet it was the result was it not? You must have let slip your own ambition, as part of your testimony."
Now there was shame in the other's eyes, and Dumbledore felt just a hint of satisfaction.
"This will all be over quickly Augustina, I promise. The attacks will stop, you will be able to return to your position. Everything will be fine, I promise."
Dumbledore picked up the trunk containing her personal effects and with a muttered, "I hope you're right" walked out the door.
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