Chapter 21: Classroom Interrogation

                                    

                                          

When Harry woke up, he was met with the sight of a random ass classroom.
He was laying on a table and the bonedeep ache in his back and shoulders made it clear that he had been laying there for a while.
He groaned and sat up, lifting a hand to massage the sore spots he could reach.
"I'm sorry, please don't call for help", pleaded Lyall who was sitting on a chair next to him, "she didn't mean to knock you out like that."
"Yes I did."
"Not helping, Effie-"
Harry frowned and could make out a blurb near the back of the classroom.
He clumsily felt around him until he made contact with his glasses.
He put them on quickly and finally saw the girl who had spoken.
It was Braithewaite.
She sat on a windowsill with her thin arms crossed, glaring daggers at him.
Her mousy brown hair was a mess and a bandage poked out from underneath her right sleeve.
"Oh my god, are you okay? Why aren't you in the hospital wing?"
She sneered and hopped off the sill, walking towards him with her wand drawn.
"Oh I bet you'd love that wouldn't you?"
"What? Why would I..."
"Stop playing dumb!"
Lyall stood up and placed himself between Harry and the furious girl.
He spoke in a soothing tone: "Just calm down for a moment, alright? Look, I talked to Harry and he seems like a decent bloke. He wouldn't have slipped that stuff into your bag."
The hufflepuff was not having it and replied: "I didn't say that. But he's real close to the guy that did it."
"I'm sure it's not like that, right Harry?"
Harry had enough. 
He stood up and crossed his arms.
He noticed his left leg was still a little numb and stiff, but he ignored it.
He spoke: "look I have no idea what the fuck you two are talking about. All I know is you", he turned to the girl, "petrified me with enough force to knock me flat out, and you", now he looked at Lyall, "didn't get help. And now-", he threw up his hands in exasperation, "I'm getting accused of poisoning you or something? Can anyone tell me what is going on?"
"Effie thinks you're friends with Lestrange."
"He is! Are you blind? They've adopted him into their little group from day one!"
Fuck. What was he supposed to say? If he denied it.. surely, it would reach his dormmates somehow?
But if he said yes, it looked like Braithewaite was going to hex him into oblivion - again.
Both turned to look at him expectantly, and Harry cleared his throat before speaking: "Look, I'm still not sure what exactly the issue is, but I guess I get along fine with him? Everyone has been pretty welcoming to me when I arrived here, so...", he shrugged, "Am I missing something?"
It was still early enough in the year that he could play the clueless new student card. Hopefully it would be enough to satisfy them so he could get out of here.
Lyall frowned and sat down on a nearby chair: "Harry...that guy really isn't someone you should get close to. He's dangerous. It makes sense that you wouldn't know, being from America and all, but.. his family is about as dark as you can get. His soul is completely tainted. The whole lot of them is like that, not just him. Well...I guess Riddle is an alright bloke, but that's about it."
Oh, poor sweet summer child, if only you knew.
Harry had to suppress a chuckle from how ironic that statement was, but he managed it fine.
It made sense that the gryffindor would think the way he did.
He and Riddle were both headboys after all. They probably spent a decent amount of time together, and Harry knew very well how manipulative and charming the slytherin heir was.