Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit.
I've always wanted to write something long, so hopefully this is the beginning of something. Tame now, but will build to M in later chapters!
"Mr. Potter, wake up this instant!"
Harry shook his head blearily, instinctively feeling around for his glasses. Through half-closed lids he could see that he already had them on. Why had he fallen asleep without taking off his glasses?
"Mr. Potter, the library is closing and if you do not leave at once you will miss curfew!"
So he'd fallen asleep in the library. Funny, he didn't remember coming to the library today. Harry scrubbed a hand through his hair and gave a sheepish grin
to Madam Pince. She glared back at him, looking spectacularly hawk-like. Harry sighed and attempted to stand.
"Merlin!"
Harry thumped back into his chair, dizzy with pain. His whole body felt like it had been beaten with a rod. After a second attempt, he managed to stay on his feet, but swayed dangerously.
"Potter, do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?" the librarian growled, utterly unsympathetic.
"Er... no, I think I'm okay..." Harry gingerly gathered his belongings and limped rapidly towards the door. His mind was working furiously, thoughts cluttered and all tinged with pain. Tossing his invisibility cloak over himself, he managed to make his way to the common room. Harry muffled a groan climbing through the portrait hole, even that slight exertion was torture.
The common room was blissfully empty. If anyone saw him, they would undoubtedly ask questions he did not know the answer to. After one more agonizing flight of stairs up to the boy's dormitory, he caught sight of himself in a mirror.
"Whaaaaa?"
His jaw dropped as he took in his appearance. There was a deep purple bruise blooming spectacularly on his neck, ringed with what looked like teeth indents. The shell of his ear was bleeding slightly. Turning his head, he caught sight of several tiny, crescent-shaped perforations. Warily, Harry inched his shirt up. His torso was striped with scratch marks.
"Harry!?"
He jumped, spinning around and pulling his shirt down as fast as he could.
"Merlin, Harry... what happened to you? I thought you'd have been back hours ago. Why are you all... marked up like that? Bloody hell, is that a hickey?"
Ron took a step towards him, pressing his thumb to the purple bruise. Harry yelped and leapt backwards, drawing a snicker from Ron.
"Ron, quit laughing, this is serious!"
"Harry, you've just shown up in the common room with a bite mark the size of Jupiter. I'm not allowed to find that the least bit amusing?"
"You don't understand, Ron, I don't know how I got any of these!"
Ron stepped back, frowning. "You don't know how you got them? I think it's bloody well obvious how you got them, mate."
Harry stared at himself in the mirror. It was obvious to him as well. But... who had given him those bruises? And why didn't he remember any of it?
