NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Maybe Not Such A Loner After All
Chapter 12: Maybe Not Such A Loner After All.
Damien didn't waste a moment getting to the headmaster's office after his brief encounter with Pansy—if what passed could even be called a conversation.
With his second class free, he left immediately, free from concerns about attendance.
"I don't recall causing trouble for anyone?" he muttered, now standing just outside the headmaster's office, where the stone gargoyle guarded the massive door.
After a few minutes, Pansy's parting words clicked into place.
"Bertie Bott's Bean," he said aloud.
The door creaked open, and the stone gargoyle gave a nod. Realization dawned, and Damien felt foolish for not realizing sooner: Pansy had been giving him the password, not craving a sweet.
'She could have just told me,' he thought, chastising himself. Pushing aside his embarrassment, he adjusted his robes and stepped inside.
"You may enter," came the familiar grandfatherly voice.
The warmth of that voice filled Damien with both comfort and unease. He hadn't done anything remarkable lately, which meant he must be here over some trouble—though what trouble, he couldn't say.
He stepped into the office, where the situation became immediately apparent.
"Good morning, Headmaster." Damien greeted, then turned to his professors. "Good morning, Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick."
The professors nodded, and the headmaster offered him a kind smile. Yet they weren't the only ones present.
"I apologize for summoning you during class, Mr. Butler," the headmaster began. "The situation at hand is somewhat... heated."
"Heated?" a cold voice interrupted. "It's intolerable, Dumbledore."
Damien turned to see a man with blonde hair, a long, scowling face, and steely eyes that bore a striking resemblance to a certain student.
This was Lucius Malfoy—the father of Draco Malfoy, Damien's former bully and recent opponent in Charms class.
"This boy not only insulted my son and injured him," Lucius sneered, "but he also tainted the Malfoy name."
Damien clenched his jaw, wanting to argue. Draco had been tormenting him, and he'd only recently fought back. But he knew better than to speak out of turn in a room where power and reputation held so much weight.
"As you can see, serious accusations have been made against you," the headmaster said, his voice calm but firm. "Do you admit to any of this?"
"No, Headmaster," Damien replied, keeping his voice steady despite his nerves.
The headmaster glanced at Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy has witnesses supporting his claims."
For a moment, Damien's mind flickered to Snape, wondering if the professor might side with Lucius. But he dismissed the thought, knowing Snape to be stern and petty but never dishonest.
"I have never harmed anyone at this school, Headmaster," Damien said. "If this is about the duel in Charms class, it was a supervised, friendly match under Professor Flitwick's guidance."
Damien looked to Professor Flitwick, who nodded in agreement. "That's correct. It was merely a friendly match. Draco Malfoy sustained only minor scratches, which were promptly tended to by Madam Pomfrey."
"That doesn't excuse the boy's barbaric behavior," Lucius spat. "He's insulted my son and the Malfoy name on multiple occasions. I demand his expulsion."
Damien's stomach dropped. Expulsion? He hadn't done anything to deserve that. But he knew he held no power in this room; if they chose to remove him, there would be nothing he could do.
"Professor, I—"
Before he could explain, Lucius cut him off. "The Parkinson girl, the Nott heir, and Crabbe and Goyle's sons all corroborate Draco's account. Considering the gravity of these statements, I don't see how you can allow this boy to remain here."
Damien felt the blood drain from his face. 'They can't expel me for this,' he thought, clenching his fists tightly behind his back in an attempt to calm himself.
A surprising wave of calm settled over him—a quiet assurance allowing him to think clearly. He recognized it as his [Sage's Thoughts], his innate ability to steady his mind.
"These are serious accusations, Mr. Butler," Dumbledore sighed. "Do you have anything more to say?"
Flitwick and Snape regarded him with pity. Flitwick could vouch for the duel, but he couldn't verify anything outside the classroom. And with the testimonies stacked against him, it was unlikely he'd win favor.
"I've never insulted anyone, Headmaster," Damien said firmly. "Even when I was bullied, I didn't retaliate. I defended myself, but never went beyond that."
"This little rat dares to lie!" Lucius snarled, but Dumbledore raised a hand to quiet him.
"I understand your anger, Lucius. However, this is a school, and we will address matters according to the rules, not emotion." He turned back to Damien. "That said, Mr. Butler, the situation does not look good. Bullying is a serious offense, and we cannot overlook it."
"But, Headmaster—"
"There are four witnesses against you, Mr. Butler," Dumbledore said gravely. "This is not in your favor."
Damien bit his lip. He'd expected some retaliation from Draco, but calling in his father to demand expulsion was a new low.
And then, just when he thought he'd exhausted his options—
"May I come in, Headmaster?"
The door opened, and a familiar voice entered the room. A flicker of relief crossed Dumbledore's face.
"You may come in, Harry," Dumbledore said, smiling.
Through the door stepped Harry Potter—the very boy whose friendship had sparked Draco's ire. Despite keeping his distance to avoid causing Harry any trouble, he'd ended up here anyway.
"Is... is everything alright, Professor?" Harry asked, glancing around the crowded office. When he saw Damien, he nodded in acknowledgment, and Damien nodded back.
"What is Potter doing here, Dumbledore?" Lucius demanded, his voice full of annoyance.
Dumbledore ignored him, turning to Harry. "I apologize for the sudden call, Harry, but Mr. Butler is facing a difficult situation."
"Damien?" Harry asked, his eyes widening with concern as he looked at his friend.
"Mr. Butler stands accused of bullying your fellow classmate, Draco Malfoy," Dumbledore said. "His situation is particularly serious, as four individuals—Miss Parkinson, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle, and Mr. Nott—have come forward in support of Mr. Malfoy's claims. I've called you here to get your perspective as classmates of both Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Butler."
"Dumbledore!" Lucius Malfoy interjected furiously. "Four children have sided with Draco, and you expect Potter's word to hold any weight against theirs? Especially since Potter seems to be a friend of this Butler boy?"
'Friend, huh?' Despite the seriousness of the situation, Damien found it ironic to be called Harry's friend when he was the one who had distanced himself.
"Then the same logic applies to Draco," Harry replied with a frown. "Those four follow Draco blindly. They aren't merely his friends; they're his followers."
Lucius scowled at this, though Professors Flitwick and Snape nodded in agreement.
"That's not a fair argument, Mr. Malfoy," Flitwick said. "If we seek truth and unbiased opinions, perhaps we should ask other students who aren't aligned with either Draco or Damien for their views."
"Mr. Butler may not be the most outstanding student," Snape added in his characteristically demeaning tone, "but he isn't one to harm others or insult anyone without reason."
"And if you want other students' testimonies, Mr. Malfoy, it won't go in Draco's favor," Harry frowned, recalling his own experiences with the Malfoys' scheming. "Draco may well be the bully if others are questioned."
"You shall not speak ill of Draco, boy," Lucius growled, gritting his teeth.
At last, Damien spoke up. "Mr. Malfoy, I have never bullied Draco. We may exchange a few words, as classmates do, but I mean no harm to him or the Malfoy name."
He felt a newfound confidence guiding his words—[Silver Tongue] was at work, lending him strength.
"I respect others and have never spoken ill of the Malfoy name," Damien continued. "If anything I've done offended Draco, I'd be willing to speak with him to resolve it."
"Damien is a respectful boy," Flitwick added, smiling warmly. "In all my years teaching him, I've never seen him act disrespectfully. He's always been willing to help others."
"He may not be the most skilled wizard," Snape said, his tone softer than usual, "but he works hard, doesn't cheat, and doesn't expect others to do his work. He's honest."
Damien couldn't tell if Snape's support was genuine or a result of [Silver Tongue], but it was comforting to know Snape, Flitwick, and Harry were on his side.
"We could ask the rest of the students, Lucius," Dumbledore said calmly. "It would take time, but it would reveal the truth."
"And Draco wouldn't come out favorably," Harry added. "He isn't well-liked, not with his reputation for bullying."
"If there is a bully, they will be dealt with fairly, Lucius," Dumbledore said firmly. "So choose wisely."
Lucius's eyes blazed with fury, but he recognized his anger would only harm his son.
"What is your decision, Lucius?" Dumbledore asked as Lucius struggled to compose himself.
"I will not pursue this matter further for now, Dumbledore," he replied, barely concealing his resentment. "But mark my words, this isn't over. I will remember today's events."
"There's no politics here, Lucius. Only a fair judgment."
Lucius scoffed. "Believe what you want, Dumbledore. But this is far from over." With that, he swept from the room, shooting a furious glare at the two boys—a promise that this was not the last they'd see of him.
"Well, that seems to settle the matter," Dumbledore said, his voice finally easing the tension in the room.
"If everything's handled, I'll take my leave," Snape said, rising.
"Likewise," Flitwick added. "I have a class waiting."
"Thank you both," Dumbledore nodded as the professors left, Flitwick offering the boys a reassuring smile.
"Now then," Dumbledore turned to Harry and Damien. "Since the major issue is resolved, I have a smaller task for you, Harry."
Harry perked up at this.
"Anything, Professor," he replied, willing to help.
"Each year, we have a student from every class assist with the Halloween festivities, and this year, I'd like you to take on that role for your class, Harry."
This was unexpected, and Harry hesitated, knowing his classmates—especially Draco and his gang—could be difficult. But Dumbledore had helped him countless times, and he couldn't say no.
"I'll do my best, Professor," he said, though not without some trepidation.
"Wonderful," Dumbledore said brightly. "Halloween is a grand event, and I know you won't disappoint."
Harry felt the weight of the responsibility but was determined to do his best.
"And Damien," Dumbledore added warmly, "I hope you'll lend Harry your support."
Damien hadn't expected to be part of the Halloween event planning, but he couldn't let Harry shoulder it alone, especially after the help he'd just received.
"Of course, Professor," Damien replied confidently. "It's the least I can do."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said, settling back in his chair. "You two may return to class now. It may have been a trying experience, but wizards don't let challenges keep them from their studies."
"Yes, Professor," the boys chorused, finally breathing a sigh of relief as they left the headmaster's office.
"That was…" Harry began.
"Nerve-wracking," Damien finished.
"At least you aren't expelled, and Draco didn't have the last laugh," Harry said with a grin.
Damien took a deep breath, letting the relief settle over him.
"Thank you, Harry," he said. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"Don't mention it," Harry replied. "Neither of us can let Draco have the last laugh, right?"
Damien laughed. "Of course."
"And it looks like we'll be working together on Halloween, so good luck with that," Harry said, offering a fist.
Damien met it with his own. "We'll get through it."
"Yeah, well, we'd better get to class," Harry said. "Wouldn't want to miss it after all that, right?"
Damien smiled, realizing why he'd been drawn to Harry back in their first year. It wasn't because of the boy's fame or his story—it was Harry's kindness and honesty that made him special.
'I see why Draco's so envious of him,' Damien thought. 'He can't come close to being even a fraction of what Harry is—a genuinely good person.'
"You coming?" Harry called, noticing Damien lingering by the door.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Damien said, stepping forward. After a year of distance, he and Harry were finally on the path to mending their friendship—a friendship that, despite everything, still had a chance to heal.
_______________________________________________
[A/N: 25+ Advanced Chapters on Patreon + Other Stories: https://www.patreon.com/Greedyfrog ]