#no team we drive ourselves right into 'no critical thought harry's a smokeshow' that all these teenagers deserve

[masterofdeath]

We know based on their behavior that most of the staff read Harry’s Quibbler article and try their best to show him their support but have you ever wonder what that must have been like READING it?

For one, Cedric was a beloved student and I imagine they, especially Sprout, are mourning his death and the injustice behind it. But additionally, just imagine reading an article about one of your students describing being tortured and forced to duel for his life, watching another classmate die, all while grown man stand by and LAUGH and then not being able to just run up to them and hug them. Reading about your student being tortured on your lunch break then try to teach him in your OWL class next period……I have a theory McGonagall favors Harry a bit (in the least favoritism way possible) and just the mental image of her reading that is kind of horrific.

Or the Order, reading about it. Obviously they KNOW but Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, reading how Harry describes it? Or Remus?

I've always been interested to see what a perspective on the initial Daily Prophet / Ministry cover-up must have felt like for friend's of Cedric. In my experience with any sudden, tragic death there is already a scramble to grasp at some sense of what went wrong. Freak accidents are rarely sufficient explanations as to why someone so vibrant, with such a presence in your life, is suddenly not there anymore. ( I think that's what we see in Cho. I would have liked to see that explored more. )

Tack on a political agenda by which it is necessary to stress how random, how senseless his loss was. People love a conspiracy, and I think that alone would have been fodder for a host of them.

There is a growing sense within the Hogwarts population throughout the year that there is some truth the adults are afraid to name, Dumbledore's Army offers a glimpse of that -- but Harry can't provide context, he can't provide reason to why everything is happening. ( He's just trying to keep his own head above water. )

So with the release of the Quibbler article, I would guess there's a lot of buzz. That certainly bleeds into the ramped up interest in Harry that carries on through the next year, but also there are students and professors and adults who bought into the story they were fed who have to come to terms with the true horror of Voldemort and his followers performing 1. magic that hadn't been seen at least in some time and 2. the graphic depiction of a child being tortured and another one murdered.

Minerva "Potter is mine" McGonagall had her reaction the night Harry told his story, she believed him. She also was going through it at the end of OOTP so I wouldn't blame her for sitting out a trip down memory lane, settling on quiet pride ( and overwhelming sadness ) for Harry's debut into adulthood. Molly also probably purposefully avoids reading it. She sat with Harry in the infirmary, she had seen how broken he was after the final task, that was all she ever needed to know to understand the scope of what was to come.

Arthur certainly poured over every detail. Harry's perspective saved him, kept his family ( mostly ) whole that year. His support, as ever, is probably like a paternal pride. As hard as it is for him to comprehend and stomach, there might even be a small part of him which revels in watching the powers that be get knocked down a few pegs.

Remus is a tricky one, his style with Harry is very hot and cold. I think he probably read it, I think he probably started writing a letter to Harry telling him how proud of him he was -- how proud his parents would be, I think he talked himself out of sending it.

Harry's story really is about him trying to honor Cedric's death in a way that is fitting of someone who deserved better. So quickly, fittingly, I think it takes on a movement that's much bigger than him. ( And honestly, he definitely wouldn't be able to handle any pity leveled his way. )