Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

'He's a boy who lost his parents,' said Neville Longbottom. 'I know how that is.' He didn't know where the words had come from. It sounded too cool, like something Harry Potter would say.

The trembling went on, though.

'Who do you think you are?' said the handsome one, starting to sound angry.

I am Neville, the last scion of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom -

Neville couldn't say it.

'I think he's a traitor,' said one of the other Gryffindors, and there was a sudden sinking sensation in Neville's stomach.

He'd known it, he'd just known it. Harry Potter had been wrong after all. Bullies wouldn't stop only because Neville Longbottom told them to stop.

The handsome one took a step forward, and the three others followed.

'So that's how it is for you,' Neville said, amazed at how steady his voice was. 'It doesn't matter to you if it's Lesath Lestrange or Neville Longbottom.'

Lesath Lestrange let out a sudden gasp, from where he was lying on the floor.

'Evil is evil,' snarled the same boy who'd spoken before, 'and if you're friends with evil, you're evil too.'

The four took another step forward.

Lesath rose, wobbling, to his feet. His face was gray, and he took a few steps forward, and leaned against the wall, and didn't say anything. His eyes were fixed on the turn in the hallway, the way out.

'Friends,' Neville said. Now his voice was going up a bit in pitch. 'Yes, I have friends. One of them is the Boy- Who-Lived.'

A couple of the Gryffindors looked suddenly worried. The handsome one didn't flinch. 'Harry Potter isn't here,' he said, his voice hard, 'and if he was, I don't think he'd like to see a Longbottom defending a Lestrange.'

And the Gryffindors took another long step forward, and behind them, Lesath crept along the wall, waiting for his chance.

Neville swallowed, and raised his right hand with his thumb and forefinger pressed together.

He shut his eyes, because Harry Potter had made him promise not to peek.

If this didn't work, he was never trusting anyone again.

His voice came out surprisingly clear, considering.

'Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres. Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres. Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres. By the debt that you owe me and the power of your true name I summon you, I open the way for you, I call upon you to manifest yourself before me.'

Neville snapped his fingers.

And then Neville opened his eyes.

Lesath Lestrange was staring at him.

The four Gryffindors were staring at him.

The handsome one started to chuckle, and that set off the other three.

'Was Harry Potter supposed to step around the corner or something?' said the handsome one. 'Aw. Looks like you've been stood up.'

The handsome one took a menacing step forward toward Neville.

The other three followed in lockstep.

'Ahem,' said Harry Potter from behind them, leaning against the wall by the window, in the dead end of the hallway, where nobody could possibly have gotten to without being seen.

If watching people scream always felt this good, Neville could sort of understand why people became bullies.

Harry Potter stalked forward, placing himself between Lesath Lestrange and the others. He swept his icy gaze across the boys in red-trimmed robes, and then his eyes came to rest on the handsome one, the ringleader. 'Mr. Carl Sloper,' said Harry Potter. 'I believe I have comprehended this situation fully. If Lesath Lestrange has ever committed a single evil himself, rather than being born to the wrong parents, the fact is not known to you. If I am mistaken in this, Mr. Sloper, I suggest you inform me at once.'

Neville saw the fear and awe on the other boys' faces. He was feeling it himself. Harry had claimed it would all be a trick, but how could it be?

'But he's a Lestrange,' said the ringleader.

'He's a boy who lost his parents,' Harry Potter said, his voice growing even colder.

This time all three of the other Gryffindors flinched.

'So,' said Harry Potter. 'You saw that Neville didn't want you tormenting an innocent boy on behalf of the Longbottoms. This failed to move you. If I tell you that the Boy-Who-Lived also thinks you are in the wrong, that what you did today was a terrible mistake, does that make a difference?'

The ringleader took a step toward Harry.