** Fic: Rethink ** for reverdybrune
Title: Rethink
Author: agonyatlas
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1100
Character(s): Zacharias Smith
Warnings: Mentions of canon character death
Author's Notes: Thanks to my beta. :)
The Prophet said Potter was lying, and as I sat there over breakfast watching him converse with his mates, I couldn't help but wonder if it was true. The Boy Wonder lying about You-Know-Who coming back... It could be a lie. It could very easily be a lie. All they had was his word for it; there was no evidence, no other witnesses. No one believes him outside of Hogwarts, no one I spoke to anyway, and yet he seemed so certain and so adamant. It was enough to confuse anyone.
Ernie and Hannah had dragged me to that stupid meeting in the Hog's Head as well. I hadn't wanted to go and when I tried to inquire as to exactly what had gone on during the final task, his stupid Weasley henchmen threatened me with a... well I don't know what it was exactly but it didn't look nice. So no evidence of any kind was offered, only assurances; assurances of what? You-Know-Who's return? That is not something I wanted to be assured of. The DA meetings themselves that I went to only under an obligation to keep Ernie and Hannah company were becoming more and more uncomfortable. At least they were using actual spells now and not that Expelliarmus first year crap.
Harry claims to have used Expelliarmus to defeat You-Know-Who as well; that part must be a lie. Umbridge said the whole thing was a lie as well, although I wasn't sure I really wanted Toady on my side... Dumbledore believes him and he's worth a hundred Umbridges at least. And why would he make it up anyway? The Slytherins say that he's making it up; they all think he wants the attention but I am pretty sure he gets enough of that as it is. He did seem like a bit of an attention whore when he first came to school; handing out signed photos in second year for instance, but he seems much less so now. I don't think he does want more attention...
Some people say the Quibbler article was about attention. But if what he is saying is true then he would want to get the message out wouldn't he? I just wish he wasn't such a smug, self-assured bastard all the time though. If he wasn't so hostile to me and the other Hufflepuffs it would be a lot easier to take his side. That doesn't really affect if he's right though, does it? The Ravenclaws all seem to have taken his side though and I am not sure I want to be on the Slytherin side.
The Quibbler article made sense of a lot of things though. When you read it everything sort of fell into place, nothing contradicted itself, which is always promising. But that was the big problem for me, that his story didn't have a huge flaw, as most paranoid delusions do. Instead it made perfect sense of things, if you accepted it as true. Which doesn't mean it is true but means I don't know that it's wrong, and not knowing that is giving me a lot of sleepless nights. There must be a flaw in it somewhere though, if it is a lie then no matter how clever a lie the must be a mistake somewhere, something that doesn't fit. I just can't find what it is, I can't find out what proves him wrong and the Prophet right. I tried to ask Umbridge, I said I thought he was lying but I wanted proof, I wanted to know where we could prove he was lying. She was nice at first but that soon faded, I think my questions bothered her. My hand still hurts.
And then there is Cedric. Poor Cedric, I loved him as a brother. A better Quidditch Captain you could not hope to have, although I will try my best. I still have my 'support Cedric Diggory the real Hogwarts Champion' badge in my dormitory somewhere. No one else has offered any reasonable explanation for his unfortunate demise. An accident they say, but what sort of accident? How does a supposedly inanimate object kill a student? How does a portkey slay someone without leaving a single mark? There is something going on there. Maybe Potter is telling the truth.
Look at him, drinking and laughing with his friends. If You-Know-Who was back you'd think he would look more worried. Maybe it is a lie. I hope it is a lie. It must be a lie. Why would anyone who thinks they are the key to destroying You-Know-Who spend their time doing Quidditch practice? Mind you, under Potter's regimen the team is over half Weasels and most people think he fancies one of them; that Ginny who tried to kill me after the match because she didn't like my commentary. 'Forgot to brake' indeed!
If You-Know-Who was back people would know. There would be disappearances, murder, mystery, intrigue etc. Instead what do we have? Nothing but fluff pieces all over the Prophet and nothing to suggest anything fishy but one unexplained accident and the word of a boy who, let's face it, does behave a little strangely. Like lying about cheating to enter the Tournament; dozens of pupils tried to get around the age ring, even me. No one minds that he managed it (except the Slytherins) and everyone would give him a lot less hassle about it if he would just be honest (except the Slytherins). He seems a bit weird to me, having strange outbursts and clutching his scar in class, thinking he's making an army in those stupid DA meetings. I don't think I do believe him, he just isn't that believable.
That's it then. Harry Potter's a liar and the sooner I can stop doubting that the sounder I'll sleep.
As I helped myself to another spoonful of porridge, a hundred owls all entered the hall, dropping post and newspapers on every table. Why the morning post has to coincide with the meal is beyond me. They should have one then the other. This point is doubly important when my stupid owl decides (every morning, no less) that my bowl is in fact a newspaper target. Wiping porridge off myself first and my newspaper second, I read the headline on page one. 'MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN'.
A shiver runs down my spine, and all I can think is Oh damn, now I have to rethink everything.
Author: agonyatlas
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1100
Character(s): Zacharias Smith
Warnings: Mentions of canon character death
Author's Notes: Thanks to my beta. :)
The Prophet said Potter was lying, and as I sat there over breakfast watching him converse with his mates, I couldn't help but wonder if it was true. The Boy Wonder lying about You-Know-Who coming back... It could be a lie. It could very easily be a lie. All they had was his word for it; there was no evidence, no other witnesses. No one believes him outside of Hogwarts, no one I spoke to anyway, and yet he seemed so certain and so adamant. It was enough to confuse anyone.
Ernie and Hannah had dragged me to that stupid meeting in the Hog's Head as well. I hadn't wanted to go and when I tried to inquire as to exactly what had gone on during the final task, his stupid Weasley henchmen threatened me with a... well I don't know what it was exactly but it didn't look nice. So no evidence of any kind was offered, only assurances; assurances of what? You-Know-Who's return? That is not something I wanted to be assured of. The DA meetings themselves that I went to only under an obligation to keep Ernie and Hannah company were becoming more and more uncomfortable. At least they were using actual spells now and not that Expelliarmus first year crap.
Harry claims to have used Expelliarmus to defeat You-Know-Who as well; that part must be a lie. Umbridge said the whole thing was a lie as well, although I wasn't sure I really wanted Toady on my side... Dumbledore believes him and he's worth a hundred Umbridges at least. And why would he make it up anyway? The Slytherins say that he's making it up; they all think he wants the attention but I am pretty sure he gets enough of that as it is. He did seem like a bit of an attention whore when he first came to school; handing out signed photos in second year for instance, but he seems much less so now. I don't think he does want more attention...
Some people say the Quibbler article was about attention. But if what he is saying is true then he would want to get the message out wouldn't he? I just wish he wasn't such a smug, self-assured bastard all the time though. If he wasn't so hostile to me and the other Hufflepuffs it would be a lot easier to take his side. That doesn't really affect if he's right though, does it? The Ravenclaws all seem to have taken his side though and I am not sure I want to be on the Slytherin side.
The Quibbler article made sense of a lot of things though. When you read it everything sort of fell into place, nothing contradicted itself, which is always promising. But that was the big problem for me, that his story didn't have a huge flaw, as most paranoid delusions do. Instead it made perfect sense of things, if you accepted it as true. Which doesn't mean it is true but means I don't know that it's wrong, and not knowing that is giving me a lot of sleepless nights. There must be a flaw in it somewhere though, if it is a lie then no matter how clever a lie the must be a mistake somewhere, something that doesn't fit. I just can't find what it is, I can't find out what proves him wrong and the Prophet right. I tried to ask Umbridge, I said I thought he was lying but I wanted proof, I wanted to know where we could prove he was lying. She was nice at first but that soon faded, I think my questions bothered her. My hand still hurts.
And then there is Cedric. Poor Cedric, I loved him as a brother. A better Quidditch Captain you could not hope to have, although I will try my best. I still have my 'support Cedric Diggory the real Hogwarts Champion' badge in my dormitory somewhere. No one else has offered any reasonable explanation for his unfortunate demise. An accident they say, but what sort of accident? How does a supposedly inanimate object kill a student? How does a portkey slay someone without leaving a single mark? There is something going on there. Maybe Potter is telling the truth.
Look at him, drinking and laughing with his friends. If You-Know-Who was back you'd think he would look more worried. Maybe it is a lie. I hope it is a lie. It must be a lie. Why would anyone who thinks they are the key to destroying You-Know-Who spend their time doing Quidditch practice? Mind you, under Potter's regimen the team is over half Weasels and most people think he fancies one of them; that Ginny who tried to kill me after the match because she didn't like my commentary. 'Forgot to brake' indeed!
If You-Know-Who was back people would know. There would be disappearances, murder, mystery, intrigue etc. Instead what do we have? Nothing but fluff pieces all over the Prophet and nothing to suggest anything fishy but one unexplained accident and the word of a boy who, let's face it, does behave a little strangely. Like lying about cheating to enter the Tournament; dozens of pupils tried to get around the age ring, even me. No one minds that he managed it (except the Slytherins) and everyone would give him a lot less hassle about it if he would just be honest (except the Slytherins). He seems a bit weird to me, having strange outbursts and clutching his scar in class, thinking he's making an army in those stupid DA meetings. I don't think I do believe him, he just isn't that believable.
That's it then. Harry Potter's a liar and the sooner I can stop doubting that the sounder I'll sleep.
As I helped myself to another spoonful of porridge, a hundred owls all entered the hall, dropping post and newspapers on every table. Why the morning post has to coincide with the meal is beyond me. They should have one then the other. This point is doubly important when my stupid owl decides (every morning, no less) that my bowl is in fact a newspaper target. Wiping porridge off myself first and my newspaper second, I read the headline on page one. 'MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN'.
A shiver runs down my spine, and all I can think is Oh damn, now I have to rethink everything.