Richie had been wrong. No one waited for Dumbledore to return from the International Confederation of Wizards meeting.
At first, the professors rushed about the area surrounding the forbidden corridor like madmen.
Minerva McGonagall looked deeply troubled. Snape was absolutely furious. Flitwick and Sprout seemed worried. Yet, surprisingly, no one even considered summoning representatives of magical law enforcement.
As Richard learned from the Weasley twins while paying them the remainder of the money for their assistance, they had released a befuddling potion into Quirrell's office that was supposed to knock the professor unconscious for at least five hours. As for Snape's office, they had sealed the door shut with a potion of their own design and reinforced it with charms that could not be removed by ordinary counter-spells. By their estimates, Snape should have needed no less than five hours to brew an antidote capable of neutralising the adhesive.
As with the DADA professor, they had underestimated the Potions Master. Snape managed it in only an hour and a half.
Immediately afterwards, McGonagall informed him about Quirrell's intrusion into the obstacle course and his death. To make matters worse, Malfoy complained to the Head of Slytherin about the abuse suffered by his owl. Snape looked utterly livid, practically shooting lightning from his eyes.
As a result, after dinner McGonagall and Snape tracked down Harry, Richie, and Ron.
They shouted so loudly that the windows in the Deputy Headmistress's office rattled. However, because the professors were preoccupied with Quirrell's death, the ordeal did not last particularly long. For the cruel prank played on Malfoy—which McGonagall genuinely believed had been nothing more than a prank—the Gryffindor Head deducted one hundred points from each member of the trio and assigned them detention with Filch every day for the remaining two weeks before the holidays.
After that, McGonagall threw the boys out of her office.
The three boys walked silently down the corridor, each lost in his own thoughts. Ron was the first to break the silence.
"We got off lightly."
"Two weeks of detention..." Harry drawled, glancing sideways at Weasley. "This is all that owl's fault."
"Harry, are you going to keep bringing that up forever?" Ron demanded.
"Ron is right," Richard said. "We really did get off lightly. It would've been much worse if there had been a whole year left until the holidays—or if the truth had somehow come out..."
Harry ran his right hand through his already hopelessly untidy hair. Speaking thoughtfully, he said:
"I wonder how Malfoy ended up there."
"He was probably following me," Richard replied. "Before you arrived, I thought I saw a shadow at the far end of the corridor. But I assumed it was just the torchlight playing tricks."
"You should've checked," Ron reproached him.
"Lads, I'm not so paranoid that I treat every shadow as a threat," Richard replied calmly. "Sorry, but I need to visit the hospital wing."
"Has something happened?" Harry asked, looking at his friend with concern.
"I picked up some sort of burn during all that madness," Richard replied carelessly. "See you tomorrow at detention."
Madam Pomfrey reacted immediately to Grosvenor's complaint. She asked no questions and at once began treating the burn with potions and ointments. The longer she worked on the wound, the deeper her frown became. The inflammation refused to disappear. Finally, she drew her wand and began casting various spells upon Richie's arm.
"A Dark Magic curse," the school matron muttered under her breath. "My dear boy, who did this to you?"
"I don't know, ma'am," Richard lied without batting an eye. "I wasn't paying any attention to my hand and didn't feel a thing until I checked the time and noticed the burn. Only then did I start feeling the pain and burning sensation."
"Young man, you are going to bed immediately and will take every potion I prescribe," the matron declared in a categorical tone.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Richard agreed at once. "Will it take long?"
"I shall be monitoring you right up until the holidays," the healer replied.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Richard was delighted.
This way he could both improve his health and officially dodge detention. And he would have no trouble finding ways to occupy himself. There were still so many books left unread. He only needed to ask Hermione to bring him something from the library.
The moment the matron disappeared into her office, Richie dialled Ron's number on his wizardphone.
"Yes?" Weasley answered.
"Ron, I've come up with a brilliant way to get out of detention."
"How?" Ron asked eagerly.
"You need to get admitted to the hospital wing."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Weasley exclaimed. "Richie, I'd much rather spend an hour or two polishing trophies in the Trophy Room than lie in a hospital bed for two weeks!"
"Suit yourself. I was only making a suggestion. I'm already here, resting and recovering."
"Richie, thanks, but I think I'll manage without that," Ron replied. "Harry completely agrees with me. Get well soon," he finished with obvious irony before ending the conversation.
The two weeks flew by in what felt like a single moment. Richard had been worried at first, but it was as though nothing had happened. Neither the Headmaster nor any of the professors told the students a single thing about Professor Quirrell's death. There was no mention of the forbidden corridor. No Aurors or Ministry of Magic officials appeared.
It was unclear how the body of the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor had been disposed of. The whole situation gave the impression that Dumbledore had decided to conceal the professor's death from everyone.
It was worth noting that the Headmaster looked deeply troubled after returning from the ICW meeting. He spent most of his time lost in thought and, whenever he appeared in the Great Hall, would absent-mindedly tug at his beard.
Dumbledore certainly had much to ponder, while Richard had plenty to celebrate. Thanks to the votes of the Confederation delegates he had effectively purchased, an international law weakening the Statute of Secrecy had successfully passed. Richie could now legally sell magical items disguised as ordinary technology to Muggles. Of course, other wizards would now have the same opportunity, but that was a minor detail.
On the evening of the final day before the students departed for home, Richard was released from the hospital wing.
Early the next morning, the scarlet steam engine carried the young witches and wizards back to London. During the journey, the young aristocrat managed to speak with all of his acquaintances. A number of promising older students caught his attention, and Richie successfully recruited them to work for Grosvenor Workshop.
Harry and Ron bore Richie no ill will over what they considered his deception. Despite having spent two weeks polishing trophies in the Trophy Room, they sympathised with their friend, who had been forced to spend the same period confined to a hospital bed.
The burn on Richard's left hand had healed, but the rune-shaped scar remained. Fortunately, it was small and caused no discomfort.
(End of Chapter)
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