Easy Or Right

Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own, Harry Potter. All characters, and other related texts, are the intellectual property of J.K Rowling, and or her associates as the copyright holders. I have made no money from the publishing of this story.



Easy Or Right



Chap. 3: The Enlightenment.



Harry woke the next morning after a full sixteen hours of sleep. He had been given several healing potions, one especially for his nervous system, due to Voldemort casting the cruciatus curse upon him in the Forbidden Forrest. Even though the curse wasn't as powerful as it could have been, due to Voldemort using the Elder Wand, it still hurt like a bitch, Harry thought. The last potion had been the Dreamless Sleep potion, which had knocked him out cold.



Harry knew something had woken him, and as he reached for his glasses on the bedside table, he heard the tail end of an argument outside. When he had managed to get fully dressed, in the clean clothes that Kreacher had fetched for him, he walked out into the Headmasters sitting room. He quickly noticed two guards, dressed in red robes, standing beside the door. Not only were they sporting staffs at their sides, but he also noticed muggle pistols holstered in their belts.



"Oh, Mr. Potter, I see you're finally up"? Narcissa Malfoy asked, as she walked over to his side, directed him to have a seat on the couch, and accept a hot cup of tea.



"Yes mam, that was the best sleep I've had in ages, and thanks for the tea". Harry replied, as he blew into the top of his cup before he took his first sip of the freshly brewed Earl Gray tea. The citrus smell, and its tangy taste were helping to wake him up in the process. "What was all the arguing I heard earlier"?



"That would have been from the two Auror's, who were stationed outside our door, being replaced by four ICW guards". Lucius Malfoy stated, as he limped into the room, and accepted a cup of tea from Narcissa.



"What"? Harry asked, with concern showing plainly on his face.



"Yes, it would seem that Mr. Shacklebolt stationed two Auror’s to guard us upon Arthur Weasley's recommendation. They did not like being replaced by these fine gentlemen, who will be guarding us from any harm, instead of the other way around". Lucius explained.



"Why would Mr. Weasley do something like that"? Harry asked, and then thought that that was a dumb question, as he pursed his lips shut.



"You will figure that out after we have our long awaited talk Mr. Potter, I assure you. You see, I will not lie to you, and can prove everything to you by several collected memories. I will allow you to give me Veritaserum if you so wish it". Lucius remarked. "Any time you are ready, we can begin our talk".



"Uh. Mr. Malfoy, has anyone attended to your injuries as of yet"? Harry asked.



"I have done my best with what little knowledge of healing I have Mr. Potter, or Harry, but he needs a medi-witch or a healer. I am afraid that the ones here, who are employed by the ministry, may be biased, and would do more damage than good". Narcissa said in a hurt tone.



"Mr. Malfoy, a healer from the ICW is on their way, and will be here shortly". One of the guards spoke up, and Lucius nodded his head at in acceptance.



"Thank goodness! Lucius was brutally beaten the day before Voldemort forced us here. Not only that, he has been subjected to beatings and curses on a regular basis while we were in captivity". Narcissa explained.



"Then we'll wait until he's seen a healer before we start our talk. I would also like Draco to be there, and sit in on it also, as I figure that Snape has mentioned him in his memories. Where is Draco anyhow"? Harry asked as he looked around the room.



"He went to take a nap about an hour ago. He didn't sleep well last night, that is, after we found out that there were Auror's just outside the door. We can wait then until he wakes up, and after the Healer gets here, for you to start your discussion". Narcissa replied.



0-0-0-0-0



"I don't like this one damn bit"! Ronald Weasley snarled. "They have Harry locked up with them, and it's untelling what's going on"!



"Oh, get over yourself Ronald, Harry is fine! They can't hurt him over the vow that was made, and you of all people know that". Hermione exclaimed, and was quickly becoming quite tired of Ron's foul remarks.



"What, are you still taking up for the Malfoy's? The very ones who have been shite to my family for years! Every damn one of them should be dragged out on the front lawn, and executed"! Ron shouted at Hermione with a glare, and then pointed his finger at her face. "If you want to follow after Harry, then fine by me! You'll just be considered another traitor to the Weasley family, and good riddance"!



Hermione looked at Ron with shock, and then her eyes started to burn as tears came forth. She couldn't believe that she had ever tried to be his girlfriend. He was the most pig-headed, jealous, prejudicial, and bigoted person she had ever met, and now she saw his violent temper spring to life again. With a shake of her head, she sprang from her chair, and ran from the Gryffindor common room, knowing she had to find Harry.



0-0-0-0-0



"Mr. Malfoy, I have healed all the bruising and contusions I can find. You will need to stay on those potions, for at least a month, to help with the damage from the Cruciatus curse, and the internal damage to your spleen. However, furthermore than that, you should be as good as new, well except for you limp. That injury is too old, and can not be healed now, I am sorry". Healer Ketchum explained, as he washed his hands in a bowl of water by the window. "If you need me, or if you have any set-backs, please feel free to floo me".



"Thank you Healer Ketchum, I will be in touch". Lucius Malfoy said, as he shook the Healer's hand, and walked him to the door. “One of these days, when this is all cleared up, maybe we can come for a visit in the States and see you”.



As Lucius made to shut the door, he spotted Hermione Granger running down the corridor, and past the damaged Gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. It looked as though she was heading towards the Headmaster’s rooms they were residing in, and he was correct in his assumption. "Mrs. Granger, slow down! Is there something wrong, or something I can help you with"?



At the sound of Lucius' voice, Hermione came to a halt, looked at the tall blonde man through her blurry, tear ridden eyes, and noticed the two outside guards staring at her. At this, she quickly tried to compose herself. "Oh, uh, Mr. Malfoy, is Harry inside"?



"Why yes he is Mrs. Granger, would you please come in"? Lucius asked as politely as he could.



When she nodded, he ushered her quickly inside.



0-0-0-0-0



Harry had just come from waking Draco when he was bombarded with a head of bushy brown hair. Her arms immediately wrapped around him, and almost crushed him to the point of not being able to breathe. Finally, her hold let up somewhat, but Harry noticed her shoulders shaking, and then found that she was crying.



"Hermione, what's wrong"? Harry asked as he guided his friend to the couch.



"It's Ron, Harry", Hermione said with a sniff, "and he is in a fit of rage; to the point that it scared me".



"He didn't hit you did he"? Harry growled, as he made to stand up, and head for the door.



"No Harry, he didn't do that". Hermione said, as she grabbed Harry's arm to hold him back. After she got him to sit back down, she looked at her best friend, and saw that he looked better than he had in a long while. "He, well, he shouted at me, and told me that if I wanted to go to you, that I was a traitor to his family, and to leave. He stuck his finger in my face, and I could have sworn that he wanted to hit me, but he held it back. To be honest, I ran because I was scared".



"Oh you poor dear! Here, drink this tea, it's fresh, and take this calming draft. It will make you feel much better, believe me, I know, since I've had to take several since yesterday". Narcissa explained as she patted the young witch on her shoulder.



"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy, I really appreciate it". Hermione said with another sniff. She then downed the potion, and took a sip of her tea to take away the bad taste left behind.



"Just call me Narcissa, Mrs. Granger. Give it a moment, and you'll feel much better". Narcissa replied in a calming tone.



"Thank you Mrs., I mean Narcissa, and thank you for looking after Harry. I assume he finally got some rest"? Hermione asked.



"Yea, I slept for about sixteen hours, I believe. I was dead to the world when we got here and put Sna... Severus' body up in his room. We put a stasis spell on him until we can give him a proper burial". Harry solemnly replied.



"It sounds like the young Mr. Weasley takes after his uncle Bilius, Mrs. Granger, by the way he is acting. Hopefully the same fate will not befall him". Lucius remarked, as he sat back into his chair with his tea, and looked at the young Muggleborn witch.





"I doubt he would see a Grim here in the castle Mr. Malfoy". Hermione replied with a questioning look upon her face.



"Ah, yes, that tale. Bilius Weasley did not fall victim to a Grim Mrs. Granger, and I know this for a fact, as I was there when it happened". Lucius said, as he rubbed the leg he limped on.



"What happened to him"? Harry asked with a serious expression on his face.



"Well, you see, Bilius Weasley had a very big mouth, that he liked to shoot off, no matter where he went, and a temper to go with it. We were in the Hogshead one night, back when you all were about seven years old. Bilius had had a few drinks, when he started mouthing off about how vile Slytherin’s were, and that every one of us of us should be killed on sight. Well, several got their hackle’s up about this, and not all were Slytherin's either". Lucius reminisced, and with a pause, he took another sip of his tea, and then set it on the table.



"Aberforth Dumbledore was telling him that he was going to throw him out, and that he was tired of Billius coming in the Hogshead to stir up trouble, when Alex Prater stood up, and told Billius where to stick his comment. He then turned to Aberforth and offered to help remove the nuisance. Before Alex could get turned back around, Bilius hit him in the temple, and the fight was on.



"Bilius Weasley was a big oaf, and was really hurting Alex at that moment during the fight. I finally stood up, trying to break up the fight, as Bilius grabbed a broken Fire Whisky bottle, and stabbed me in the leg with it. As I went down on my knees, and Bilius' attention was on me, Alex took a brass Spittoon from the floor, and bashed it over Bilius' head. Alex didn't know it, but he had cracked Bilius' skull at the time. So, Aberforth called Arthur Weasley to come and retrieve his big brother. He did, and as Arthur carried him out the door, Bilius claimed to have seen a Grim in the road leading into Hogsmeade. Little did they know, it was the black dog that belonged to Aberforth at the time.



"So you see, this is how tales get started, and strange things that happen become truth. There was never a Grim, just a harmless mutt that was on its way back home. Arthur took Bilius home, and by the next morning, he had died of a brain hemorrhage" Lucius finished, and retrieved his tea from the table.



"What happened to this Alex Prater"? Harry enquired.



"He ended up in Azkaban, is what happened". Draco spoke up, after coming into the room.



"Azkaban? But, it was self defense in a way. I mean, Bilius threw the first punch, and was about to kill the man". Hermione stated with certainty.



"Oh, well, you see, the man never got a trial. Bilius Weasley was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and Dumbledore was out for blood. Since he was the Chief Warlock, he bypassed Alex's trial, saying that they had enough evidence to send him straight to a cell. Just like they did with poor old Sirius Black". Draco explained as he sat down in a chair beside his father.



"I can't hardly believe that Draco, Dumbledore wouldn't stoop that low". Harry stated, and when Draco snorted, Harry scowled.



"Mr. Potter, I can assure you it did happen the way my son said it did. I can offer you my memories of the night of the fight, and of the day that I sat in the Wizengamot, listening to your esteemed Headmaster call out the mans fate". Lucius said, with an even look at Harry.



"So you're saying that Dumbledore had something to do with Sirius' imprisonment"? Harry asked with an incredulous look aimed at the two Malfoy's.



"Well, Harry, he was the Chief Warlock when Sirius supposedly killed Peter Pettigrew, and he never lifted a finger to see if he was innocent, nor would he offer to look for Pettigrew". Draco explained. "He looked the other way as they carted the man off to Azkaban. If you remember, a few years ago, I tried to hint about Sirius to you in potions class, and you turned your back to it".



"What are you on about Draco"? Harry scowled.



"Well it was in our third year, our second day back, if I recall. I tried to tell you in a roundabout way that you should go searching for Black. I told you that if it were me, that I would want revenge on Black. Of course, I couldn't tell you the truth exactly, especially with Crabbe and Goyle listening in, but you needed to confront Sirius and find out that he was innocent".



"I seem to remember that now. Ron said you were making it all up though, I do remember it now. We were already arguing about Hagrid, and about Buckbeak scratching your arm". Harry commented as he thought back on what happened.



"Scratch"?!? Draco shouted. He then pulled up his right sleeve and showed Harry a wide, red, nasty looking scar at his elbow. "Does this look like a scratch to you? Of course you believed Hagrid when he said 'It's just a scratch'"!



"Yea, but you should have listened to Hagrid and not approached a Hippogriff without bowing to it. No, you wanted to show off that day, and you got yourself hurt". Harry growled out. "Draco, you almost got Hagrid fired, and Buckbeak killed in the end"!



"You mean they let that thing live after Fudge said it was supposed to be executed"? Draco growled right back. "Plus, I thought it was tamed down after you had went up to it, and if you remember, the others allowed several students to come around them at once!



"Well, I, er, we, sort of, saved Buckbeak". Harry muttered. "The thing is, it shouldn't have been killed"!



"I fully agree with Harry"! Hermione piped up. "It was an innocent creature, just like the House Elves"!



"All right boys, Mrs. Granger, settle down". Lucius commanded, and both young wizards looked as if the air had been let out of them, while Hermione settled back into her chair with a pout. "Mr. Potter, what you may not know, and that I assure you, I do, is that Rubeus Hagrid has gotten many children hurt during his tenure here". Lucius explained, and held his hand up to quiet both Harry and Hermione. "I am speaking of his time here since he was made the Gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys at the age of fourteen.



"The ministry has made numerous trips here to Hogwarts over the years, due to numerous parents complaints about their children being hurt by dangerous beasts. They have also been here over Hagrid breeding inter-species magical beasts. That, in itself, is strictly against the law, and yes, I know about those Blast-Ended Skrewt’s".



"Every time this happened though, Albus Dumbledore had certain ministry officials look the other way, and he kept Hagrid on. Since I was on the Board of Governors, I was privy to all that has happened, and they have been trying to get rid of Hagrid from about his second year of employment here, or around 1943. It was not just I, but all twelve members of the board, along with the Chancellor himself, that voted when this happened, and the vote was unanimous. The ministry was then contacted, and well, you know the rest".



"Yes, I know that Voldemort got him expelled for killing Moaning Myrtle". Harry growled.



"Well, yes, and no. Hagrid was never convicted of Myrtles death, Mr. Potter, but he was expelled for keeping a live Acromantula within the confines of this school. The same one, as rumor has it, fathered all those other spiders that the Dark Lord used against this very school". Lucius stated. "If that spider had been dealt with years ago, he would not have had them to use against us, and there were several people killed by them during the final battle".



Harry and Hermione paled at this. As both looked at the floor while thinking over Lucius' words, Hermione came back to herself.



"Harry, I really do have to agree with Mr. Malfoy; Hagrid can be a danger to us, and you know I've already stated this several times. I even tried to get him to change his lesson plans when Umbridge was here, but he wouldn't listen". Hermione said with a sigh, and then hurried to cut Harry off. "Yes, Harry, I like Hagrid too, but he really shouldn't be teaching Care of Magical Creatures, and you know this too. Really, I think it's time for him to retire, and maybe get with Madam Maxine; maybe even get married and settle down".



"Mr. Potter, it really pains me to say this, but Hagrid was another pawn made, and used, by Dumbledore himself”. Lucius stated, as he watched for Harry's reaction.



"What are you saying Mr. Malfoy, that he used Hagrid"? Harry harshly asked.



"Well, I will explain, without sugar coating the truth, as most have done to you in the past. Albus Dumbledore was a master at manipulation. He would take advantage of a situation to suit his needs, and he has done this several times to get certain people in his pocket so to speak. In Hagrid's case, he had just gotten expelled, and then his father died. He didn't have anywhere to go, so Dumbledore saw this, and used it to his advantage.



"At the time, World War II was being waged, and Britain was under fire, along with our world. A group, being led by Gellert Grindelwald, Dumbledore’s old lover, to tell the truth, attacked us. Dumbledore had set back from facing Grindelwald over this very thing, and also over who was responsible for killing his sister. Finally, the public outcry was so great, that Dumbledore had to act, and he needed a small band of followers to help him, so, he began to recruit certain people into his fold. After all, having a half-giant to fight for you would help tremendously. So, taking advantage of Hagrid's situation, and offering him a job, he made Hagrid indebted to him.



"He's done this numerous times Mr. Potter, so don't look so shocked. Remus Lupin was in the same boat, and he helped him, a Werewolf, whom he needed, and then held that over his head to have him fight for him. He got your father too, by allowing James to run rampant, and do as he pleased all through school, without any repercussions. This also got Sirius Black involved, as James' best friend, along with Pettigrew, who followed the group.



"He ran into a problem here though, as he really didn't want Sirius, or Peter Pettigrew for that matter. My thoughts are, that since Sirius was such a loose cannon, that that is why he ended up in Azkaban, to get him out of the way, and to keep you out of his hands. I also think that Dumbledore knew Pettigrew was the new secret keeper, as Severus heard that Dumbledore visited your father just a few days before he was killed, and asked for his invisibility cloak. I think he used your parents, and you, as bait for the Dark Lord, and that was a way of getting rid of Pettigrew. I don't know if he considered your parents getting killed in the process or not".



All went quiet at this, and Harry thought things over for several minutes.



"Dumbledore admitted to me that he visited my father at Godrics Hollow to get the cloak. He asked him if he could look it over for a few days, and my father was killed shortly after. Pettigrew would have had to give him the address to find the house". Harry said, the last part under his breath.



"Nobody knew when the Dark Lord was going after your family, Mr. Potter; not until the night it happened. The Dark Lord left the meeting with Pettigrew, and Severus went as quickly as he could to warn Dumbledore. Maybe, Dumbledore was hoping to be warned more in advance, so as to confront the Dark Lord, and Pettigrew, but alas, that did not happen". Lucius sadly tried to explain.



Within seconds of Lucius' last sentence, Draco whipped his wand out, pointed it just over Harry's head, and shouted "Subsisto Egressus"! (1)



Harry quickly ducked, and pulled his own wand, aiming it steadily at Draco's heart. After blinking his eyes rapidly, and seeing what actually happened, he placed his wand back in his pocket with a chagrined look on his face.



"What the hell Malfoy"? Harry grumbled.



"Its Malfoy again is it? Well, I just caught a spy, and he is right behind you". Draco drawled, as a smirk formed upon his lips.



Harry quickly looked behind him at this. "There's nobody there, what are you playing at"?



With a loud snort, Draco explained. "The painting Potter, look who's peaking from behind the chair. I caught him trying to slip from that portrait just then".



Lucius stood and walked over to the portrait at this. He studied it for a moment, turned to look at the occupants in the room, and then turned back to the sneaky occupant.



"Armando Dippet, I presume"? Lucius drawled. "You might as well show yourself, as you'll not be leaving that frame, I can assure you".



The ex-Headmaster stood from behind his painted chair, cleared his throat, shuffled into the front of the portrait, and looked down at his feet for a second, trying to compose his face into an innocent look.



"Ah, Lucius Malfoy isn't it? Yes, yes, can't remember too well in my old age you know. I was just having a nap you see". Dippet said, and finally gave a small smile.



Lucius didn't believe him for a minute, nor did anyone else for that matter. He studied Headmaster Dippet for a moment more, smirked at the portraiture, and turned around to Harry.



"Mr. Potter, could you call your House-Elf for me, I am in need of his services". Lucius politely asked.



When Hermione started to pipe up about House-Elf rights, Harry quickly cut her off with a glare. "Kreacher"!



With a pop, the old elf came into view, and bowed to Harry. "Can Kreacher be of assistance to Master"?



"Er, um, Kreacher, Lucius needs you to do something for him". Harry instructed.



"Kreacher will be glad to help the head of the house of Malfoy! What can old Kreacher be getting for you sir"? Kreacher asked with his Bullfrog croak.



"Yes, Kreacher, can you please get me a can of Terman's Most-Potent Turpentine"? Lucius mildly enquired, still wearing his smirk, and making sure the portrait of Headmaster Dippet watched on.



With a quick snap of the old elf's fingers he disappeared with a pop, and within a half-minute, he reappeared with a can in his hand.



"Kreacher took the can right from under the old squib Filch's nose, he did! Can Kreacher be getting you anything else"? The old elf asked hopefully.



"No Kreacher, that will be all for now". Lucius said, and the old elf disappeared again. "Mr. Potter, do you know what Terman's Most-Potent Turpentine can do to a magical portrait when applied liberally to the canvas"?



"No sir, I'm not aware". Harry replied, as he played along.



"Well, needless to say, it will damage it beyond repair, and if the portrayed is trapped inside, they will be lost forever". Lucius explained, as he looked back at the portrait.



"Now, let us not be too hasty here"! Dippet squeaked out. "There is no need for violence"!



"Well then, Headmaster, you will not mind telling us whom you were to report back to, will you"? Lucius coldly asked as he reached towards the can on the table.



"Who - who, said I was reporting to anyone". Dippet stuttered. "I was taking a nap"!



At this, Lucius gripped the can, and raised it up toward the portrait.



"Are you then calling my son a liar, Headmaster Dippet"? Lucius growled out as he brought the can even closer.



"No - no, not at all sir, not at all." Dippet replied as his eyes bulged comically out of his head. "I - I, well, I was asked by Headmaster Dumbledore's portrait to learn what was being spoken of in his old quarters".



"Really"? Lucius replied, drawing it out into a hiss. "Have you relayed anything else that has been spoken of in here"? Lucius brought the can closer again.



"No - no, I just slipped into this vacant painting about an hour ago, I swear, I swear"! Dippet almost cried as he watched the can get closer again.



"I see", said Lucius, "and you know we can't have that now, don't you"?



Finally, as it looked as if the ex-Headmaster was about to pass out, Lucius set the can of Turpentine back onto the table. "Draco, you know what to do".



Draco aimed his wand at the portrait again, watching as Dippet’s eyes became huge, and with a quick wand flick incanted, "Petrificus Imago"! (2)



The spell hit the portrait dead center, where it quickly glowed the lightest blue possible, and when the light faded, it looked as if there was frost gathered on the painted surface. The character in the painting was frozen stiff, unable to move.



"That should hold the conniving old bastard"! Draco exclaimed with a smirk.



"Draco, watch your language young man"! Narcissa spoke up, in what seemed like the first time in hours.



"Yes mum". Draco said sheepishly, as his cheeks turned red, and he quickly stared at the floor.



Lucius quickly cleared his throat. "Good job son, I am proud of you for spotting our spy". After Draco looked up, and gave him a beaming grin, he soldiered on. "Now then, what shall we do with this portrait, anyone have any ideas"?



"Fix it so he can't leave the frame, take him to the third floor, and hang him in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom"? Harry cheekily replied.















(1) Subsisto Egressus = Stop Egress (Stop from leaving).



(2) Petrificus Imago = Petrify Image.





.