Without Hermione stirring things up, the students tapered off shadowing Harry and running interference for him as Ron tended to avoid him and Ginny hadn't bothered him after Professor Babbling had explained her rune to her. The other kids, who'd at first sought to take advantage of the rift in the Golden Trio, had gotten the message from his wall and were also leaving him alone now. As for those kids who honestly did wish to be his friend, they too seemed to realize now wasn't the time to try. So he was left alone to recover from four years of abuse and mistreatment mixed with bad publicity and bad friends.
He and Severus had compiled a lot of information on the Headmaster and his time in the Castle since the end of October. The School Board used the month of December to determine for themselves how the school was faring under it's current leadership. Severus handed them, minus Lady Augusta, the packet of information on December the first and they dove into it. Lady Augusta already had the packet so they hadn't needed to give it to her. For the next two weeks, they came to the Castle quite often to ask questions.
They asked questions of both Professor Dumbledore and the other Heads of House. These questions ran the gamut of what had occurred at the school during various periods of time to missing courses and lowering overall grade averages. They even included questions about the lack of past time activities for the student body and how the lack of sufficient entertainment might be affecting their overall learning.
They also talked to Myrtle the Teenaged Ghost about how she had died and what involvement if any she believed the Professor had with her death. It turned out Professor Dumbledore had a lot more to do with events during her encounter than he had led anyone to believe he had. That it was he who had talked Headmaster Dippet into stopping the program of housing those who lived in unsuitable muggle homes from remaining at the Castle year around. Because Albus didn't like having students on campus all the time. He was also the one telling Headmaster Dippet the rumors of a Secret Chamber within the school was nothing but a myth and then when Myrtle had died it had been he who had called for the school to close it's doors and suggested Hagrid be expelled for killing her even though he knew Hagrid had done no such thing as he knew Hagrid's pet of the year was a baby acromantula and not a snake with a killing gaze.
Then they talked to Colin about his death and what the Headmaster had done regarding his demise. They discovered he had done the same thing to Colin's family as he'd done to Myrtle's. He sent a note telling them their child was deceased and not much else. Nor had he sent the body home so it could be buried in accordance to family custom. Just as he hadn't sent the body of Myrtle Brown home for her family to bury.
Finally, they talked to Hagrid who kept telling them Professor Dumbledore was a Great Man but he made mistakes just like everybody else. While at the same time admitting Albus hadn't even suggested helping Hagrid clear his name or regain his right to carry a wand. Not before Harry had killed the beastie he'd gotten expelled over or afterwards. Albus hadn't even suggested he continue studying magic he would've learned if his education hadn't been derailed as it had. Not even when he suggested Hagrid might like to take over teaching the Care of Magical Creatures classes here at Hogwarts had he suggested Hagrid spend the summer brushing up on his own learning. He proudly admitted Harry had bought him books to study and learn from. So he could be a better wizard and a better teacher. He even admitted he was licensed to carry and use a wand in France where he held a Beast Master's credentials and was working on a Potion Suppliers license. Thanks to Mr. Potter who had made the arrangements and put Hagrid in contact with the right people over there to get it done.
Those three discussions showed them nothing had changed in how the Headmaster handled events. And that history was repeating itself. Colin's death was almost exactly the same as Myrtle's had been and Dumbledore had done nothing different in handling the boy's death than he had in handling the girl's. Nor had he set Hagrid to rights though he had given the man a job and a place to live. By the same token, he had done nothing to punish the true guilty party while letting an innocent take the fall. In either case. Yes, Harry was still enrolled at Hogwarts but Dumbledore had done nothing to disabuse the students of the notion he'd been the one to get Colin Creevey killed. Nor had he set any kind of a punishment detail for Ms. Weasely who was also still enrolled at Hogwarts. By the time Yuletide rolled around they were ready to make their verdict.
Professor Dumbledore really didn't understand why the School Board was interfering now when they never had before and he certainly didn't like the questions they were asking. As far as he was concerned this could've waited until the children were out of school for the summer. If it had to take place at all. Which as far as he was concerned, it didn't. Right now he had things to do. Information to uncover and a student to get back control over. He didn't have time for meaningless fact finding missions into things that were over and done with. Especially with his back to back bank runs for funding all the time.
Professor McGonagal, however, did know where the questions were coming from. She didn't like it any better than he did since she seemed to be in a spot of trouble herself over it all. But her eyes were open now and she honestly couldn't say she didn't deserve it. She had ignored Harry. Repeatedly. First, for not being enough like his father and then because he was too much like his father. Then he'd been too much like Sirius Black. Then not enough. Too serious. Then not serious enough. She had jumped to believe everything Ms. Granger had said about him and anything that showed him in a negative light. And Ms. Granger had told her a lot of negative things about Mr. Potter.
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