Harry Potter: But Where is Harry?

Chapter 14

The next morning dragged on with the usual monotony of History of Magic. Professor Binns, floating a few inches above his desk as always, droned about the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1689, detailing how it forced wizarding communities across Europe to vanish from Muggle sight. Thomas fought to stay awake, only managing to scribble a few legible notes before the bell finally rang.

As students filtered out, Thomas caught up with Hermione, who looked far too alert for a morning of Binns' lectures. "Lunch?" he asked.

She nodded, already halfway through a sentence about how the statute had reshaped magical governance in France. Thomas barely heard her—his mind was elsewhere.

By the time they reached the Great Hall, it buzzed with the midday clatter of plates and a low din of conversation. Thomas sat at the Gryffindor table, barely touching his food. His eyes flicked toward the Slytherin table, mentally counting heads.

Perfect. Almost all the Slytherin first-years were present.

"You're unusually quiet," Hermione said, chewing on a carrot stick. "You're not still thinking about last Potions class, are you?"

"No," Thomas said, half-truthfully. "Just... thinking about magical theory. Got some ideas."

Hermione gave him a curious look, but before she could pry, he spotted Fred and George Weasley slipping into the seat across from him.

"Afternoon, young Thomas," said Fred cheerfully.

"You've got that glint in your eye," said George, grinning. "Plotting something devious?"

"Actually," Thomas leaned forward, voice low, "I need a favor. A bit of a distraction in the Great Hall. Right now, during lunch. Can you do it?"

Fred and George looked at each other with mock offense.

"Can we do it?" said Fred.

"He doubts us, George."

"We are the very spirit of mischief!"

"What kind of distraction?" Fred asked, more seriously.

"Big enough that most Slytherins have their attention elsewhere. Just a few minutes. Think you can manage it?"

The twins grinned in unison.

"Consider it done."

Fred discreetly slid a small pouch toward Thomas under the table. "Some prank supplies. Should do the trick. Minor combustibles. Nothing harmful. Just... messy."

Thomas nodded, slipping the pouch into his robes. "You two are legends."

"Don't forget it," said George, already rising. "Watch the chaos."

As the twins wandered off toward the other end of the Hall, Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"

"Nothing dangerous," Thomas said quickly. "Just... research."

Hermione huffed but returned to her lunch. Thomas glanced at the entrance, then stood. "Back in a bit. Gonna check something in the potions storeroom."

"During lunch?" she asked.

"Yeah. Inspiration struck."

She gave him a skeptical look, but didn't stop him.

---

Thomas hurried through the corridor, heart pounding. The dungeons felt colder than usual, the shadows longer. He passed a pair of older students, nodding absently, and reached the Potions classroom.

He knocked lightly, then pushed the door open. Empty. No Snape.

Just to be sure, he walked in and called out, "Professor Snape? I had a question about...

Silence.

Good.

Thomas shut the door quietly behind him and moved to the side where student cauldrons were typically stored. Each House had a designated shelf. He found the ones labeled for Slytherin first-years and carefully opened the pouch from Fred.

Inside were several small vials of shimmering powders and packets marked with color-coded wax seals. A tiny scroll provided directions:

> Red: Color burst. Green: Foamy eruption. Blue: Pungent stink cloud.

Thomas grinned. He chose three Slytherin cauldrons at random and added a bit of each.

As he worked, he failed to notice a quiet shuffle behind the partially opened door.

Draco Malfoy stood just out of sight, eyes narrowed. He had followed Thomas after spotting him sneaking out of the Hall with that odd intensity. While Crabbe and Goyle were busy stuffing their faces, Draco slipped away, suspecting mischief.

So, Thomas wanted to prank the Slytherins?

Draco smirked. Two could play that game.

He waited until Thomas finished and left, the door clicking shut. Then Draco crept inside, checking the cauldrons.

He grinned when he saw the tampering.

"How convenient," he whispered.

Carefully, he swapped the cauldrons. Three from Gryffindor—left unguarded—were moved to the Slytherin shelf, and the trapped ones placed where Gryffindor's should be. He made sure one was labeled for Neville.

Satisfied, Draco wiped any trace of movement and slipped out.

---

Afternoon classes began. Gryffindor and Slytherin first-years gathered outside the Potions classroom. Thomas stood beside Neville and Hermione, watching Snape sweep in with his usual billowing drama.

"Inside," he snapped.

The students filed in. Each found their assigned cauldron, which had been cleaned and left ready.

Thomas frowned. He could have sworn... had they been moved?

Snape turned, eyes narrowed. "Today, we will be preparing a simple Herbicide Potion. Useful for neutralizing Devil's Snare and similar magical flora."

He flicked his wand. Ingredients floated toward the students.

"Follow the instructions. No improvisation. I want no idiotic displays of creativity."

Thomas muttered, "Too late for that."

"What was that, Mr. Greene?"

"Nothing, sir."

As the class began measuring and stirring, Neville leaned over.

"Why does my cauldron smell like mint and sulfur?"

Thomas's stomach dropped. That wasn't supposed to happen.

One by one, hissing and sputtering noises erupted. The first explosion came from Seamus Finnigan's station—unsurprisingly—but the next was Dean's. Then Lavender's. Then Neville's.

Pops and bursts filled the room as cauldrons shot out sprays of multicolored foam, glittering powder, and foul-smelling clouds. The Gryffindor side of the room looked like a magical art experiment gone wrong.

The Slytherins were untouched.

Thomas looked around. His cauldron was perfectly fine.

Snape's eyes blazed.

"SILENCE!"

The room froze, foam dripping from desks.

Snape stalked to Thomas's cauldron, noting its pristine state.

"How fortunate that yours alone is untouched."

"I didn't—"

"Enough. I will not have my classroom turned into a circus."

He turned to the class. "Fifteen points from Gryffindor. Mr. Greene, detention for two weeks. Every evening after class."

Gasps rippled through the Gryffindors. Ron looked livid.

"You did this on purpose!" he hissed.

"I didn't!"

Seamus muttered, "Bit convenient yours didn't blow, innit?"

Even Hermione looked uncertain. "Thomas... were you experimenting again?"

Thomas's face turned red. "I didn't sabotage our cauldrons. I swear."

Snape's voice cut through. "Silence. Finish cleaning this mess. Your homework will be doubled."

---

After class, Thomas lingered while the others left. He approached Snape's desk.

"Professor... I accept the punishment. But I truly didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Snape looked down his nose. "Intentions matter little when consequences fall on others. Report tomorrow at 5 PM."

Thomas bowed his head. "Yes, sir."

He left the classroom with heavy steps.

Outside, the Gryffindors were gathered.

"We can't trust him," Ron said. "First the Remembrall, now this."

"He's always sneaking around," Lavender added.

Hermione didn't speak. She just looked at Thomas, expression unreadable.

He didn't defend himself. Not yet. He needed to understand how this happened. Had someone moved the cauldrons? It didn't make sense.

That night, lying in bed, Thomas stared at the canopy above.

He thought of Draco's smug face.

"He did it," Thomas whispered. "He turned it on me."

But no one would believe it. Not without proof.

Now he had detention, a divided House, and still no Disillusionment Charm.

Maybe the twins would give him another shot.

If he could clean up this mess first.