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initials
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\begin_body

\begin_layout Chapter
Asking the Wrong Questions
\end_layout

\begin_layout Initial
\begin_inset Argument 2
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout
A
\end_layout

\end_inset


\begin_inset Argument 3
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout
s
\end_layout

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 soon as Harry opened his eyes in the Ravenclaw first-year boys' dormitory,
 on the morning of his first full day at Hogwarts, he knew something was
 wrong.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
It was quiet.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard

\emph on
Too
\emph default
 quiet.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Oh, right… There was a Quietus Charm on his bed's headboard, controlled
 by a small slider bar, which was the only reason it was ever possible for
 anyone to go to sleep in Ravenclaw.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry sat up and looked around, expecting to see others rising for the day
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

--
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The dorm, empty.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The beds, rumpled and unmade.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The sun, coming in at a rather high angle.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
His Quieter turned all the way up to maximum.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And his mechanical alarm clock was still running, but the alarm was turned
 off.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He'd been allowed to sleep until 9:52
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

am, apparently.
 Despite his best efforts to synchronize his 26-hour sleep cycle to his
 arrival at Hogwarts, he hadn't gotten to sleep last night until around
 1
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

am.
 He'd been planning to wake up at 7:00
\begin_inset space ~
\end_inset

am with the other students, he could stand being a little sleep-deprived
 his first day so long as he got some sort of magical fix before tomorrow.
 But now he'd missed breakfast.
 And his very first class at Hogwarts, in Herbology, had started one hour
 and twenty-two minutes ago.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The anger was slowly, slowly wakening in him.
 Oh, what a nice little prank.
 Turn off his alarm.
 Turn up the Quieter.
 And let Mr.
\begin_inset ERT
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout


\backslash
 
\end_layout

\end_inset

Bigshot Harry Potter miss his first class, and be blamed for being a heavy
 sleeper.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
When Harry found out who'd done this…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
No, this could only have been done with the cooperation of all twelve other
 boys in the Ravenclaw dorm.
 All of them would have seen his sleeping form.
 All of them had let him sleep through breakfast.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The anger drained away, replaced by confusion and a horribly wounded feeling.
 They'd 
\emph on
liked
\emph default
 him.
 He'd thought.
 Last night, he'd thought they liked him.
 
\emph on
Why…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
As Harry stepped out of the bed, he saw a piece of paper facing out from
 his headboard.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The paper said,
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
My fellow Ravenclaws,
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
It's been an extra long day.
 Please let me sleep in and don't worry about my missing breakfast.
 I haven't forgotten about my first class.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Yours,
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Harry Potter.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And Harry stood there, frozen, ice water beginning to trickle through his
 veins.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The paper was in his own handwriting, in his own mechanical pencil.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And he didn't remember writing it.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And… Harry squinted at the piece of paper.
 And unless he was imagining it, the words “I haven't forgotten” were written
 in a different style, as if he was trying to tell himself something…?
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Had he 
\emph on
known
\emph default
 he was going to be Obliviated? Had he stayed up late, committed some sort
 of crime or covert activity, and then… but he didn't 
\emph on
know
\emph default
 the Obliviate spell… had someone else… what…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A thought occurred to Harry.
 If he 
\emph on
had
\emph default
 known he was going to be Obliviated…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Still in his pyjamas, Harry ran around his bed to his trunk, pressed his
 thumb against the lock, pulled out his pouch, stuck in his hand and said
 “Note to myself.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And another piece of paper popped into his hand.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry took it out, staring at it.
 It too was in his own handwriting.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The note said:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Dear Me,
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Please play the game.
 You can only play the game once in a lifetime.
 This is an irreplaceable opportunity.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Recognition code 927, I am a potato.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
Yours,
\end_layout

\begin_layout Quote

\emph on
You.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry nodded slowly.
 “Recognition code 927, I am a potato” was indeed the message he had worked
 out in advance — some years earlier, while watching TV — that only he would
 know.
 If he had to identify a duplicate of himself as being really 
\emph on
him,
\emph default
 or something.
 Just in case.
 Be Prepared.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry couldn't 
\emph on
trust
\emph default
 the message, there might be other spells involved.
 But it ruled out any simple prank.
 He had definitely written this and he definitely didn't remember writing
 it.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Staring at the paper, Harry became aware of ink showing through from the
 other side.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He flipped it over.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The reverse side read:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GAME:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
you do not know the rules of the game
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 you do not know the stakes of the game
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 you do not know the objective of the game
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 you do not know who controls the game
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 you do not know how to end the game
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
You start with 100 points.
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 Begin.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry stared at the “instructions”.
 This side wasn't handwritten; the writing was perfectly regular, hence
 artificial.
 It looked as if it had been inscribed by a Quotes Quill, such as the one
 he'd bought to take dictation.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He had 
\emph on
absolutely no clue
\emph default
 what was going on.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Well… step one was to get dressed and eat.
 Maybe reverse the order of that.
 His stomach felt rather empty.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He'd missed breakfast, of course, but he was Prepared for that eventuality,
 having visualised it in advance.
 Harry put his hand into his pouch and said “Snack bars”, expecting to get
 the box of cereal bars he'd bought before departing for Hogwarts.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
What popped up did not feel like a box of cereal bars.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
When Harry brought his hand into his field of vision he saw two tiny candy
 bars — not nearly enough for a meal — attached to a note, and the note
 was inscribed in the same writing as the game instructions.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The note said:
\end_layout

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\begin_layout Plain Layout
ATTEMPT FAILED: -1 POINT
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: 99
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

PHYSICAL STATE: STILL HUNGRY
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

MENTAL STATE: CONFUSED
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Gleehhhhh” Harry's mouth said without any sort of conscious intervention
 or decision on his part.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He stood there for around a minute.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
One minute later, it 
\emph on
still
\emph default
 didn't make any sense and he 
\emph on
still
\emph default
 had absolutely no idea what was going on and his brain hadn't even 
\emph on
begun
\emph default
 to grasp at any 
\emph on
hypotheses
\emph default
 like his mental hands were encased in rubber balls and couldn't pick anything
 up.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
His stomach, which had its own priorities, suggested a possible experimental
 probe.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Ah…” Harry said to the empty room.
 “I don't suppose I could spend a point and get my box of cereal bars back?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was only silence.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry put his hand into the pouch and said “Box of cereal bars.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A box that felt like the right shape popped up into his hand… but it was
 too light, and it was open, and it was empty, and the note attached to
 it said:
\end_layout

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\begin_layout Plain Layout
POINTS SPENT: 1
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: 98
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

YOU HAVE GAINED: A BOX OF CEREAL BARS
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'd like to spend one point and get the 
\emph on
actual cereal bars
\emph default
 back,” said Harry.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Again, silence.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry put his hand into the pouch and said “cereal bars”.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Nothing came up.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry shrugged despairingly and went over to the cabinet he'd been given
 near his bed, to get his wizard's robes for the day.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
On the floor of the cabinet, under his robes, were the cereal bars, and
 a note:
\end_layout

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\begin_layout Plain Layout
POINTS SPENT: 1
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: 97
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

YOU HAVE GAINED: 6 CEREAL BARS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

YOU ARE STILL WEARING: PYJAMAS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

DO NOT EAT WHILE YOU ARE WEARING YOUR PYJAMAS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

YOU WILL GET A PYJAMA PENALTY
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard

\emph on
And now I know that whoever controls the game is insane.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“My guess is that the game is controlled by Dumbledore,” Harry said out
 loud.
 Maybe 
\emph on
this
\emph default
 time he could set a new land speed record for being quick on the uptake.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Silence.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
But Harry was starting to pick up the pattern; the note would be in the
 next place he looked.
 So Harry looked under his bed.
\end_layout

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\begin_layout Plain Layout
HA! HA HA HA HA HA!
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

HA HA HA HA HA HA!
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

DUMBLEDORE DOES NOT CONTROL THE GAME
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

BAD GUESS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

VERY BAD GUESS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

-20 POINTS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

AND YOU ARE STILL WEARING PYJAMAS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

IT IS YOUR FOURTH MOVE
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

AND YOU ARE STILL WEARING PYJAMAS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

PYJAMA PENALTY: -2 POINTS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: 75
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Welp, that was a puzzler, all right.
 It was only his first day at school and once you ruled out Dumbledore,
 he didn't know the name of anyone else here who was this crazy.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
His body more or less on autopilot, Harry gathered up a set of robes and
 underwear, pulled out the cavern level of his trunk (he was a very private
 sort of person and someone might walk into the dorm), got dressed, and
 then went back upstairs to put away his pyjamas.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry paused before pulling out the cabinet drawer that held his pyjamas.
 If the pattern here held true…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“How can I earn more points?” Harry said out loud.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Then he pulled out the drawer.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
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\begin_layout Plain Layout
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD ARE EVERYWHERE
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

BUT DARKNESS IS WHERE THE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

COST OF QUESTION: 1 POINT
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: 74
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

NICE UNDERWEAR
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

DID YOUR MOTHER PICK THEM OUT?
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry crushed the note in his hand, face flaming scarlet.
 Draco's curse came back to him.
 
\emph on
Son of a mudblood —
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
At this point he knew better than to say it out loud.
 He would probably get a Profanity Penalty.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry girded himself with his mokeskin pouch and wand.
 He peeled off the wrapper of one his cereal bars and threw it into the
 room's rubbish bin, where it landed atop a mostly-uneaten Chocolate Frog,
 a crumpled envelope and some green and red wrapping paper.
 He put the other cereal bars into his mokeskin pouch.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He looked around in a final, desperate, and ultimately futile search for
 clues.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And then Harry left the dorm, eating as he went, in search of the Slytherin
 dungeons.
 At least that was what he 
\emph on
thought
\emph default
 the line was about.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Trying to navigate the halls of Hogwarts was like… probably 
\emph on
not
\emph default
 quite as bad as wandering around inside an Escher painting, that was the
 sort of thing you said for rhetorical effect rather than for its being
 true.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A short time later, Harry was thinking that in fact an Escher painting would
 have both pluses and minuses compared to Hogwarts.
 Minuses: No consistent gravitational orientation.
 Pluses: At least the stairs wouldn't move around 
\emph on
WHILE YOU WERE STILL ON THEM.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry had originally climbed four flights of stairs to get to his dorm.
 After clambering down no fewer than twelve flights of stairs without getting
 anywhere near the dungeons, Harry had concluded that (1) an Escher painting
 would be a 
\emph on
cakewalk
\emph default
 by comparison, (2) he was somehow 
\emph on
higher
\emph default
 in the castle than when he'd started, and (3) he was so 
\emph on
thoroughly
\emph default
 lost that he wouldn't have been surprised to look out of the next window
 and see two moons in the sky.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Backup plan A had been to stop and ask for directions, but there seemed
 to be an extreme lack of people wandering around, as if the beggars were
 all attending class the way they were supposed to or something.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Backup plan B…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'm lost,” Harry said out loud.
 “Can, um, the spirit of the Hogwarts castle help me or something?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I don't think this castle has a spirit,” observed a wizened old lady in
 one of the paintings on the walls.
 “Life, perhaps, but not spirit.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was a brief pause.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Are you —” Harry said, and then shut his mouth.
 On second thought, no he was NOT going to ask the painting whether it was
 fully conscious in the sense of being aware of its own awareness.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'm Harry Potter,” said his mouth, more or less on autopilot.
 Also more or less automatically, Harry stuck out a hand towards the painting.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The woman in the painting looked down at Harry's hand and raised her eyebrows.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Slowly, the hand dropped back to Harry's side.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Sorry,” Harry said, “I'm sort of new here.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“So I perceive, young raven.
 Where are you trying to go?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry hesitated.
 “I'm not really sure,” he said.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Then perhaps you are already there.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Well, wherever I 
\emph on
am
\emph default
 trying to go, I don't think 
\emph on
this
\emph default
 is it…” Harry shut his mouth, aware of just how much he was sounding like
 an idiot.
 “Let me start over.
 I'm playing this game only I don't know what the rules are —” That didn't
 really work either, did it.
 “Okay, third try.
 I'm looking for opportunities to do good so I can score points, and all
 I have is this cryptic hint about how darkness is where the light needs
 to be, so I was trying to go down but I seem to keep going up instead…”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The old lady in the painting was looking at him rather sceptically.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry sighed.
 “My life tends to get a bit peculiar.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Would it be fair to say that you don't know where you're going or why you're
 trying to get there?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Entirely
\emph default
 fair.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The old lady nodded.
 “I'm not sure that being lost is your most important problem, young man.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“True, but unlike the more important problems, it's a problem I can understand
 how to solve and 
\emph on
wow
\emph default
 is this conversation turning into a metaphor for human existence, I didn't
 even realise that was happening until just now.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The lady eyed Harry appraisingly.
 “You 
\emph on
are
\emph default
 a fine young raven, aren't you? For a moment I was starting to wonder.
 Well then, as a general rule, if you keep on turning left, you're bound
 to keep going down.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
That sounded strangely familiar but Harry couldn't recall where he'd heard
 it before.
 “Um… you seem like a very intelligent person.
 Or a picture of a very intelligent person… anyway, have you heard of a
 mysterious game where you can only play once, and they won't tell you the
 rules?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Life,” said the lady at once.
 “That's one of the most obvious riddles I've ever heard.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry blinked.
 “No,” he said slowly.
 “I mean I got an actual note and everything saying that I had to play the
 game but I wouldn't be told the rules, and someone is leaving me little
 slips of paper telling me how many points I've lost for violating the rules,
 like a minus two point penalty for wearing pyjamas.
 Do you know anyone here at Hogwarts who's crazy enough and powerful enough
 to do something like that? Besides Dumbledore, I mean?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The picture of a lady sighed.
 “I'm only a picture, young man.
 I remember Hogwarts as it was — not Hogwarts as it is.
 All I can tell you is that if this were a riddle, the answer would be that
 the game is life, and that while we do not make all the rules ourselves,
 the one who awards or takes points is always you.
 If it is not riddle but reality — then I do not know.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry bowed very low to the picture.
 “Thank you, milady.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The lady curtseyed to him.
 “I wish I could say that I'll remember you with fondness,” she said, “but
 I probably won't remember you at all.
 Farewell, Harry Potter.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He bowed again in reply, and started to climb down the nearest flight of
 stairs.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Four left turns later he found himself staring down a corridor that ended,
 abruptly, in a tumbled mound of large rocks — as if there had been a cave-in,
 only the surrounding walls and ceiling were intact and made of quite regular
 castle stones.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“All right,” Harry said to the empty air, “I give up.
 I'm asking for another hint.
 How do I get to where I need to go?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“A hint! A hint, you say?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The excited voice came from a painting on the wall not far away, this one
 a portrait of a middle-aged man in the loudest pink robes that Harry had
 ever seen or even imagined.
 In the portrait he was wearing a droopy old pointed hat with a fish on
 it (not a drawing of a fish, mind, but a fish).
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Yes!” Harry said.
 “A hint! A hint, I say! Only not just 
\emph on
any
\emph default
 hint, I'm looking for a 
\emph on
specific
\emph default
 hint, it's for a game I'm playing —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Yes, yes! A hint for the game! You're Harry Potter, aren't you? I'm Cornelion
 Flubberwalt! I was told by Erin the Consort who was told by Lord Weaselnose
 who was told by, I forget really.
 But it was a message for 
\emph on
me
\emph default
 to give to you! For 
\emph on
me!
\emph default
 No one's cared about me in, I don't know how long, maybe ever, I've been
 stuck down here in this bloody useless old corridor — a hint! I have your
 hint! It will only cost you three points! Do you want it?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Yes! I want it!” Harry was aware that he probably ought to keep his sarcasm
 under control but he just couldn't seem to help himself.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“The darkness can be found between the green study rooms and McGonagall's
 Transfiguration class! That's the hint! And get a move on, you're slower
 than a sack of snails! Minus ten points for being slow! Now you have 61
 points! That was the rest of the message!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Thank you,” Harry said.
 He was really getting behind on the game here.
 “Um… I don't suppose you know where the message 
\emph on
originally
\emph default
 came from, do you?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“It was spoken by a hollow voice that belled forth from a gap within the
 air itself, a gap that opened upon a fiery abyss! That's what they told
 me!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry was no longer sure, at this point, whether this was the sort of thing
 he ought to be sceptical about, or the sort of thing he should just take
 in stride.
 “And how can I find the line between the green study rooms and Transfiguration
 class?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Just spin back around and go left, right, down, down, right, left, right,
 up, and left again, you'll be at the green study room and if you go in
 and walk straight out the opposite side you'll be on a big curvy corridor
 that goes to an intersection and on the right side of that intersection
 will be a long straight hallway that goes to the Transfiguration classroom!”
 The figure of the middle-aged man paused.
 “At least that's how it was when 
\emph on
I
\emph default
 was in Hogwarts.
 This 
\emph on
is
\emph default
 a Monday on an odd-numbered year, isn't it?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Pencil and mechanical paper,” Harry said to his pouch.
 “Er, cancel that, paper and mechanical pencil.” He looked up.
 “Could you repeat that?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
After getting lost another two times, Harry felt that he was beginning to
 understand the basic rule for navigating the ever-changing maze that was
 Hogwarts, namely, 
\emph on
ask a painting for directions
\emph default
.
 If this reflected some sort of incredibly deep life lesson he couldn't
 figure out what it was.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The green study room was a surprisingly pleasant space with sunlight streaming
 in from windows of green-stained glass that showed dragons in calm, pastoral
 scenes.
 It had chairs that looked extremely comfortable, and tables that seemed
 very well-suited to studying in the company of one to three friends.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry couldn't 
\emph on
actually
\emph default
 walk straight through and out the door on the other side.
 There were 
\emph on
bookshelves
\emph default
 set into the wall, and he had to go over and read some of the titles, so
 as to not lose his claim to the Verres family name.
 But he did it quickly, mindful of the complaint about being slow, and then
 went out the other side.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He was walking down the “big curvy corridor” when he heard a young boy's
 voice cry out.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
At times like this, Harry had an excuse to sprint all-out with no regards
 for saving energy or doing proper warmup exercises or worrying about crashing
 into things, a sudden frantic flight that nearly came to an equally sudden
 halt as he almost ran over a group of six first-year Hufflepuffs…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
…who were huddled together, looking rather scared and like they desperately
 wanted to do something but couldn't figure out what, which probably had
 something to do with the group of five older Slytherins who seemed to be
 surrounding another young boy.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry was suddenly rather angry.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Excuse me!
\emph default
” shouted Harry at the top of his lungs.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
It might not have been necessary.
 People were already looking at him.
 But it certainly served to stop all the action cold.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry walked past the cluster of Hufflepuffs towards the Slytherins.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
They looked down at him with expressions that ranged from anger to amusement
 to delight.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Part of Harry's brain was screaming in panic that these were much older
 and bigger boys who could stomp him flat.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Another part said dryly that anyone caught seriously stomping the Boy-Who-Lived
 was in for a whole 
\emph on
world
\emph default
 of trouble, especially if they were a pack of older Slytherins and there
 were seven Hufflepuffs who saw it, and that the chance of them doing him
 any permanent damage in the presence of witnesses was nearly zero.
 The only real weapon the older boys had against him was his own fear, if
 he allowed that.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Then Harry saw that the boy they had trapped was Neville Longbottom.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Of course.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
That settled it.
 Harry had decided to apologise humbly to Neville and that meant Neville
 was 
\emph on
his
\emph default
, how 
\emph on
dare
\emph default
 they?
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry reached out and grabbed Neville by the wrist and 
\emph on
yanked
\emph default
 him out from between the Slytherins, the boy stumbling in shock as Harry
 pulled him out and in nearly the same motion pushed his own way through
 the same gap.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And Harry stood in the center of the Slytherins where Neville had stood,
 looking up at the much older, larger, and stronger boys.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Hello,” Harry said.
 “I'm the Boy-Who-Lived.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was a rather awkward pause.
 No one seemed to know where the conversation was supposed to go from there.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry's eyes dropped downwards and saw some books and papers scattered around
 the floor.
 Oh, the old game where you let the boy try to pick up his books and then
 knock them out of his hand again.
 Harry couldn't remember ever being the object of that game himself, but
 he had a good imagination and his imagination was making him furious.
 Well, once the larger situation was resolved it would be easy enough for
 Neville to come back and pick up his materials, provided that the Slytherins
 stayed too intent on him to think of doing anything to the books.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Unfortunately his straying eyes had been noted.
 “Ooh,” said the largest of the boys, “did `oo want the widdle books —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Shut up,” Harry said coldly.
 
\emph on
Keep them off balance.
 Don't do what they expect.
 Don't fall into a pattern that calls for them to bully you.

\emph default
 “Is this part of some incredibly clever plan that will gain you future
 advantage, or is it as pointless a disgrace to the name of Salazar Slytherin
 as it —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The largest boy shoved Harry Potter hard, and he went sprawling out of the
 circle of Slytherins onto the hard stone floor of Hogwarts.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And the Slytherins laughed.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry rose up in what seemed to him like terribly slow motion.
 He didn't know yet how to use his wand, but there was no reason to let
 that stop him, under the circumstances.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'd like to pay 
\emph on
as many points as it takes
\emph default
 to get rid of this person,” Harry said, pointing with his finger to the
 largest Slytherin.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Then Harry lifted his other hand, said “Abracadabra,” and snapped his fingers.
\begin_inset Float figure
placement bp
wide false
sideways false
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\align center
\begin_inset Graphics
	filename 013-abracadabra_by_dinosaurusgede-d31nnh7.png
	lyxscale 30

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Plain Layout
\align center
\begin_inset Box Frameless
position "t"
hor_pos "c"
has_inner_box 1
inner_pos "t"
use_parbox 0
use_makebox 0
width "80col%"
special "none"
height "1in"
height_special "totalheight"
status collapsed

\begin_layout Plain Layout

\size small
Then Harry lifted his other hand, said “Abracadabra,” and snapped his fingers.
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
At the word 
\emph on
Abracadabra
\emph default
 two of the Hufflepuffs screamed, including Neville, three other Slytherins
 leapt desperately out of the way of Harry's finger, and the largest Slytherin
 staggered back with an expression of shock, a sudden splash of red decorating
 his face and neck and chest.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry had 
\emph on
not
\emph default
 been expecting 
\emph on
that
\emph default
.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Slowly, the largest Slytherin reached up to his head, and peeled off the
 pan of cherry pie that had just draped itself over him.
 The largest Slytherin held the pan in his hand for a moment, staring at
 it, then dropped it to the floor.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
It probably wasn't the best time in the world for one of the Hufflepuffs
 to start laughing, but that was exactly what one of the Hufflepuffs was
 doing.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Then Harry caught sight of the note on the bottom of the pan.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Hold on,” Harry said, and darted forward to pick up the note.
 “This note's for me, I think —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
You,”
\emph default
 growled the largest Slytherin, “
\emph on
you, are, going, to —
\emph default

\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Look
\emph default
 at this!” shouted Harry, brandishing the note at the older Slytherin.
 “I mean, just 
\emph on
look
\emph default
 at this! Can you believe I'm being charged 30 points for shipping and handling
 on one lousy pie? 30 points! I'm turning a loss on the deal even after
 rescuing an innocent boy in distress! And storage fees? Conveyance charges?
 Drayage costs? How do you get 
\emph on
drayage costs
\emph default
 on a 
\emph on
pie?
\emph default
”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was another one of those awkward pauses.
 Harry thought deadly thoughts at whichever Hufflepuff couldn't seem to
 stop giggling, that idiot was going to get him hurt.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry stepped back and shot the Slytherins his best lethal glare.
 “Now go away or I will just keep making your existence more and more surreal
 until you do.
 Let me warn you… messing with 
\emph on
my
\emph default
 life tends to make 
\emph on
your
\emph default
 life… 
\emph on
a little hairy.

\emph default
 Get it?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
In a single terrible motion, the largest Slytherin whipped his wand out
 to point at Harry and in the same instant was hit on the other side of
 his head by another pie, this one bright blueberry.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The note on this pie was rather large and clearly readable.
 “You might want to read the note on that pie,” Harry observed.
 “I think it's for you this time.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The Slytherin slowly reached up, took the pie pan, turned it over with a
 wet glop that dropped more blueberry on the floor, and read a note that
 said:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center

\bar under
WARNING
\bar default

\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset


\bar under
NO
\bar default
 MAGIC MAY BE USED ON THE CONTESTANT
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 WHILE THE GAME IS IN PROGRESS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 FURTHER INTERFERENCE IN THE GAME
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset


\bar under
WILL
\bar default
 BE REPORTED TO THE GAME AUTHORITIES
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The expression of sheer bafflement on the Slytherin's face was a look of
 art.
 Harry thought that he might be starting to like this Game Controller.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Look,” Harry said, “you want to call it a day? I think things are spiralling
 out of control here.
 How about you go back to Slytherin and I go back to Ravenclaw and we all
 just cool down a bit, okay?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I've got a better idea,” hissed the largest Slytherin.
 “How about if you accidentally break all your fingers?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“How in Merlin's name do you stage a believable accident after making the
 threat in front of a dozen witnesses, you 
\emph on
idiot
\emph default
 —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The largest Slytherin slowly, deliberately reached out towards Harry's hands,
 and Harry froze in place, the part of his brain that was noticing the other
 boy's age and strength finally managing to make itself heard, screaming,
 
\emph on
WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING?
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Wait!” said one of the other Slytherins, his voice suddenly panicky.
 “Stop, you shouldn't actually do that!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The largest Slytherin ignored him, taking Harry's right hand firmly in his
 left hand, and taking Harry's index finger in his right hand.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry stared the Slytherin straight in the eyes.
 Part of Harry was screaming, this wasn't supposed to happen, this wasn't
 
\emph on
allowed
\emph default
 to happen, grownups would never let something like this 
\emph on
actually
\emph default
 happen —
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Slowly, the Slytherin started to bend his index finger backwards.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard

\emph on
He hasn't actually broken my finger and it is beneath me to so much as flinch
 until he does.
 Until then, this is just another attempt to cause fear.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Stop!” said the Slytherin who had objected before.
 “Stop, this is a very bad idea!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I rather agree,” said an icy voice.
 An older woman's voice.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The largest Slytherin let go of Harry's hand and jumped backwards as if
 burned.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Professor Sprout!” cried one of the Hufflepuffs, sounding as glad as anyone
 Harry had ever heard in his life.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Into Harry's field of vision, as he turned, stalked a dumpy little woman
 with messily curled grey hair and clothes covered with dirt.
 She pointed an accusing finger at the Slytherins.
 “Explain yourselves,” she said.
 “What are you doing with my Hufflepuffs and…” she looked at him.
 “My fine student, Harry Potter.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard

\emph on
Uh oh.
 That's right, it was HER class I missed this morning.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“He threatened to kill us!” blurted one of the other Slytherins, the same
 one who'd called for a halt.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“What?” Harry said blankly.
 “I did 
\emph on
not!
\emph default
 If I was going to kill you I wouldn't make public threats first!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A third Slytherin laughed helplessly and then stopped abruptly as the other
 boys shot him deadly glares.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Professor Sprout had adopted a rather sceptical expression.
 “What death threat would this be, exactly?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“The Killing Curse! He pretended to use the Killing Curse on us!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Professor Sprout turned to look at Harry.
 “Yes, quite a terrible threat from an eleven-year-old boy.
 Though still not something you should 
\emph on
ever
\emph default
 dream of pretending, Harry Potter.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I don't even know the 
\emph on
words
\emph default
 to the Killing Curse,” Harry said promptly.
 “And I didn't have my wand out at any time.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Now Professor Sprout was giving Harry a sceptical look.
 “I suppose this boy hit 
\emph on
himself
\emph default
 with two pies, then.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“He 
\emph on
didn't
\emph default
 use his wand!” blurted one of the young Hufflepuffs.
 “I don't know how he did it either, he just snapped his fingers and there
 was pie!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Really,” said Professor Sprout after a pause.
 She drew her own wand.
 “I won't require it, since you do seem to be the victim here, but would
 you mind if I checked your wand to verify that?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry took out his wand.
 “What do I —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Prior Incantato,
\emph default
” said Sprout.
 She frowned.
 “That's odd, your wand doesn't seem to have been used at all.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry shrugged.
 “It hasn't, actually, I only got my wand and schoolbooks a few days ago.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Sprout nodded.
 “Then we have a clear case of accidental magic from a boy who felt threatened.
 And the rules plainly state that you are not to be held responsible.
 As for 
\emph on
you…
\emph default
” she turned to the Slytherins.
 Her eyes dropped deliberately to Neville's books lying on the floor.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was a long silence during which she looked at the five Slytherins.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Three points from Slytherin, 
\emph on
each
\emph default
,” she said finally.
 “And six from 
\emph on
him,
\emph default
” pointing to the boy covered in pie.
 “Don't you 
\emph on
ever
\emph default
 meddle with my Hufflepuffs again, or my student Harry Potter either.
 Now 
\emph on
go.
\emph default
“
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
She didn't have to repeat herself; the Slytherins turned and walked away
 very quickly.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Neville went and started picking up his books.
 He seemed to be crying, but only a little.
 It might have been from delayed shock, or it might have been because the
 other boys were helping him.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Thank you 
\emph on
very
\emph default
 much, Harry Potter,” Professor Sprout said to him.
 “Seven points to Ravenclaw, one for each Hufflepuff you helped protect.
 And I won't say anything more.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry blinked.
 He'd been expecting something more along the lines of a lecture about keeping
 himself out of trouble, and a rather severe scolding for missing his very
 first class.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Maybe he 
\emph on
should
\emph default
 have gone to Hufflepuff.
 Sprout was cool.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Scourgify,
\emph default
” Sprout said to the mess of pie on the floor, which promptly vanished.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And she left, walking along the hall that led to the green study room.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“How did you 
\emph on
do
\emph default
 that?” hissed one of the Hufflepuff boys as soon as she was gone.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry smiled smugly.
 “I can make anything I want happen just by snapping my fingers.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The boy's eyes widened.
 “
\emph on
Really?
\emph default
”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“No,” said Harry.
 “But when you're telling everyone this story be sure to share it with Hermione
 Granger in first-year Ravenclaw, she has an anecdote you might find amusing.”
 He had absolutely no clue what was happening, but he wasn't about to pass
 up the opportunity to add to his growing legend.
 “Oh, and what was all that about the Killing Curse?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The boy gave him a strange look.
 “You really don't know?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“If I did, I wouldn't be asking.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“The words to the Killing Curse are,” the boy swallowed, and his voice dropped
 to a whisper, and he held his hands away from his sides as if to make it
 very clear that he wasn't holding a wand, “
\emph on
Avada Kedavra.
\emph default
“
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard

\emph on
Well of course they are.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry put this on his growing list of things to never ever tell his Dad,
 Professor Michael Verres-Evans.
 It was bad enough talking about how you were the only person to survive
 the fearsome Killing Curse, without having to admit that the Killing Curse
 was “Abracadabra.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I see,” Harry said after a pause.
 “Well, that's the last time I ever say 
\emph on
that
\emph default
 before snapping my fingers.” Though it 
\emph on
had
\emph default
 produced an effect that might be tactically useful.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Why
\emph default
 did you —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Raised by Muggles, Muggles think it's a joke and that it's funny.
 Seriously, that's what happened.
 Sorry, but can you remind me of your name?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'm Ernie Macmillan,” said the Hufflepuff.
 He held out his hand, and Harry shook it.
 “Honoured to meet you.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry executed a slight bow.
 “Pleased to meet you, skip the honoured thing.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Then the other boys crowded round him and there was a sudden flood of introducti
ons.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
When they were done, Harry swallowed.
 This was going to be very difficult.
 “Um… if everyone would excuse me… I have something to say to Neville —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
All eyes turned to Neville, who took a step back, his face looking apprehensive.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I suppose,” Neville said in a tiny voice, “you're going to say I should've
 been braver —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Oh, no, nothing like that!” Harry said hastily.
 “Nothing to do with 
\emph on
that
\emph default
.
 It's just, um, something the Sorting Hat told me —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Suddenly the other boys looked 
\emph on
very
\emph default
 interested, except for Neville, who was looking even 
\emph on
more
\emph default
 apprehensive.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There seemed to be something blocking Harry's throat.
 He knew he should just blurt it out, and it was like he'd swallowed a large
 brick that was just stuck in the way.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
It was like Harry had to manually take control of his lips and produce each
 syllable individually, but he managed to make it happen.
 “I'm, sor, ry.” He exhaled and took a deep breath.
 “For what I did, um, the other day.
 You… don't have to be gracious about it or anything, I'll understand if
 you just hate me.
 This isn't about me trying to look cool by apologising or your having to
 accept it.
 What I did was wrong.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
There was a pause.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Neville clutched his books tighter to his chest.
 “Why did you do it?” he said in a thin, wavering voice.
 He blinked, as if trying to hold back tears.
 “Why does 
\emph on
everyone
\emph default
 do that to me, even the Boy-Who-Lived?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry suddenly felt smaller than he ever had in his life.
 “I'm sorry,” Harry said again, his voice now hoarsened.
 “It's just… you looked so scared, it was like a sign over your head saying
 `victim', and I wanted to show you that things 
\emph on
don't
\emph default
 always turn out badly, that sometimes the monsters give you chocolate…
 I thought if I showed you that, you might realise there wasn't so much
 to be afraid of —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“But there 
\emph on
is,
\emph default
” whispered Neville.
 “You saw it today, there 
\emph on
is!
\emph default
”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“They wouldn't have done anything really bad in front of witnesses.
 Their main weapon is fear.
 That's why they target 
\emph on
you,
\emph default
 because they can see you're afraid.
 I wanted to make you less afraid… show you that the fear was worse than
 the thing itself… or that was what I told myself, but the Sorting Hat told
 me that I was lying to myself and that I really did it because it was fun.
 So that's why I'm apologising —”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“You hurt me,” said Neville.
 “Just now.
 When you grabbed me and pulled me away from them.” Neville held out his
 arm and pointed to where Harry had grabbed him.
 “I might have a bruise here later from how hard you pulled.
 You hurt me worse than anything the Slytherins did by bumping into me,
 actually.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Neville!
\emph default
” hissed Ernie.
 “He was trying to 
\emph on
save
\emph default
 you!”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I'm sorry,” whispered Harry.
 “When I saw that I just got… really angry…”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Neville looked at him steadily.
 “So you yanked me out really hard and put yourself in where I was and went,
 `Hello, I'm the Boy-Who-Lived'.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry nodded.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“I think you're going to be really cool someday,” Neville said.
 “But right now, you're not.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry swallowed the sudden knot in his throat and walked away.
 He continued down the corridor to the intersection, then turned left into
 a hallway and kept on walking, blindly.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
What was he 
\emph on
supposed
\emph default
 to do here? Never get angry? He wasn't sure he could have done anything
 without being angry and who knows what would have happened to Neville and
 his books then.
 Besides, Harry had read enough fantasy books to know how 
\emph on
this
\emph default
 one went.
 He would try to suppress the anger and he would fail and it would keep
 coming out again.
 And after this whole long journey of self-discovery he would learn at the
 end that his anger was a part of himself and that only by accepting it
 could he learn to use it wisely.
 
\emph on
Star Wars
\emph default
 was the only universe in which the answer actually 
\emph on
was
\emph default
 that you were supposed to cut yourself off completely from negative emotions,
 and something about Yoda had always made Harry hate the little green moron.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
So the obvious time-saving plan was to skip the journey of self-discovery
 and go straight to the part where he realised that only by accepting his
 anger as a part of himself could he stay in control of it.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The problem was that he didn't 
\emph on
feel
\emph default
 out of control when he was angry.
 The cold rage made him feel like he was 
\emph on
in
\emph default
 control.
 It was only when he looked back that 
\emph on
events as a whole
\emph default
 seemed to have… blown up out of control, somehow.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He wondered how much the Game Controller cared about that sort of thing,
 and whether he'd won or lost points for it.
 Harry himself felt like he'd lost quite a few points, and he was sure the
 old lady in the picture would have told him that his was the only opinion
 that mattered.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
And Harry was also wondering whether the Game Controller had sent Professor
 Sprout.
 It was the logical thought: the note had threatened to notify the Game
 Authorities, and then there Professor Sprout was.
 Maybe Professor Sprout 
\emph on
was
\emph default
 the Game Controller — the 
\emph on
Head of House Hufflepuff
\emph default
 would be the 
\emph on
last
\emph default
 person anyone would suspect, which ought to put her near the top of Harry's
 list.
 He'd read one or two mystery novels, too.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“So how am I doing in the game?” Harry said out loud.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A sheet of paper flew over his head, as if someone had thrown it from behind
 him — Harry turned around, but there was no one there — and when Harry
 turned forwards again, the note was settling to the floor.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The note said:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
\begin_inset Box Frameless
position "t"
hor_pos "c"
has_inner_box 1
inner_pos "t"
use_parbox 0
use_makebox 0
width "80col%"
special "none"
height "1in"
height_special "totalheight"
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout
POINTS FOR STYLE: 10
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

POINTS FOR GOOD THINKING: -3,000,000
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

RAVENCLAW HOUSE POINTS BONUS: 70
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: -2,999,871
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

TURNS REMAINING: 2
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“
\emph on
Minus three million points?”
\emph default
 Harry said indignantly to the empty hallway.
 “That seems excessive! I want to file an appeal with the Game Authorities!
 And how am I supposed to make up three million points in the next two turns?”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Another note flew over his head.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
\begin_inset Box Frameless
position "t"
hor_pos "c"
has_inner_box 1
inner_pos "t"
use_parbox 0
use_makebox 0
width "80col%"
special "none"
height "1in"
height_special "totalheight"
status open

\begin_layout Plain Layout
APPEAL: FAILED
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS: -1,000,000,000,000 POINTS
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

CURRENT POINTS: -1,000,002,999,871
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

TURNS REMAINING: 1
\end_layout

\end_inset


\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry gave up.
 With one turn remaining all he could do was take his best shot, even if
 it wasn't very good.
 “My guess is that the game represents life.”
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A final sheet of paper flew over his head, reading:
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
ATTEMPT FAILED
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 FAILED FAILED FAILED
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 AIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

 CURRENT POINTS: MINUS INFINITY
\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset


\bar under
YOU HAVE LOST THE GAME
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
\align center
FINAL INSTRUCTION:
\emph on

\begin_inset Newline newline
\end_inset

go to Professor McGonagall's office
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
The last line was in his own handwriting.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Harry stared at the last line for a while, then shrugged.
 Fine.
 Professor McGonagall's office it would be.
 If 
\emph on
she
\emph default
 was the Game Controller…
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
Okay, honestly, Harry had absolutely no idea how he would feel if Professor
 McGonagall was the Game Controller.
 His mind was just drawing a complete blank.
 It was, literally, unimaginable.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
A couple of portraits later — it wasn't a long trip, Professor McGonagall's
 office wasn't far from her Transfiguration classroom, at least not on Mondays
 on odd-numbered years — Harry stood outside the door to her office.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He knocked.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
“Come in,” said Professor McGonagall's muffled voice.
\end_layout

\begin_layout Standard
He entered.
\end_layout

\end_body
\end_document