Butterfly Effect ; H. Potter

77. seen and unforseen.

Luna said vaguely that she did not know how soon Rita's interview with Harry and Antheia would appear in The Quibbler, that her father was expecting a lovely long article on recent sightings of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, "- and of course, that'll be a very important story, so Harry and Antheia's might have to wait for the following issue," said Luna.

Harry had not found it an easy experience to talk about the night when Voldemort had returned. Rita had pressed him and Antheia for every little detail and they had given her everything they could remember, knowing that this was their one big opportunity to tell the world the truth. Harry wondered how people would react to the story. He guessed that it would confirm a lot of people in the view that he was completely insane, not least because his story would be appearing alongside utter rubbish about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But the breakout of Bellatrix Lestrange and her fellow Death Eaters had given Harry a burning desire to do something, whether or not it worked ...

"Can't wait to see what Umbridge thinks of you going public," said Dean, sounding awestruck at dinner on Monday night. Seamus was shovelling down large amounts of chicken and ham pie on Dean's other side, but Harry knew he was listening.

"It's the right thing to do, Harry, Antheia," said Neville, who was sitting opposite him. He was rather pale, but went on in a low voice, "It must have been ... tough ... talking about it ... was it?"

"Yeah," mumbled Harry, "but people have got to know what Voldemort's capable of, haven't they?"

"It's been months and the Wizarding World's been ignoring what's happening," said Antheia. "Someone had to expose Voldemort's plans."

"That's right," said Neville, nodding, "and his Death Eaters, too ... people should know ..."

Neville left his sentence hanging and returned to his baked potato. Seamus looked up, but when he caught Harry's eye he looked quickly back at his plate again. After a while, Dean, Seamus, and Neville stood up.

"We're going to the common room," said Dean. "Do you want to come, Antheia?"

"Oh, I told Angelina I'd come to Quidditch practice if I could ..." she said, checking the time. "There's just a few minutes left, but Angelina'll be happy if I even show up."

"Sorry you had to miss practice," said Dean, looking slightly abashed.

"Don't worry, I enjoyed Hogsmeade with you much more than all-day practice," Antheia smiled. Harry rolled his eyes, and no one but Hermione seemed to notice. She shot him a warning look. Seamus seemed to have the same idea, as he groaned.

"Good luck at practice, then, star Seeker," grinned Dean, and he as well as Antheia, Seamus, and Neville left the Great Hall, leaving Harry and Hermione at the table.

Cho Chang walked into the Hall with her friend Marietta. Harry's stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, but she did not look over at the Gryffindor table, and sat down with her back to him.

"Oh, I forgot to ask you," said Hermione brightly, glancing over at the Ravenclaw table, "what happened on your date with Cho? How come you were back so early?"

"Er ... well, it was ..." said Harry, pulling a dish of rhubarb crumble towards him and helping himself to seconds, "a complete fiasco, now you mention it."

And he told her what had happened in Madam Puddifoot's teashop.

"... so then," he finished several minutes later, as the final bit of crumble disappeared, "she jumps up, right, and says, 'I'll see you around, Harry,' and runs out of the place!" He put down his spoon and looked at Hermione. "I mean, what was all that about? What was going on?"