Pretending
They pretend they don't see the tear tracks left on Harry's face as they walked away. They pretend not to notice the oversized, baggy clothes that clearly don't fit. They don't ask why, exactly, his glasses always need fixed on the train to Hogwarts, or why even with his glasses, he sometimes can't see what's right in front of him. They pretend not to notice that he never answers their questions about his home life. They pretend not to notice the bruises and burns on his arms after the summer holidays. They pretend not to notice him muttering about his relatives not caring. They pretend not to notice the looks of longing on his face when they get something from their families. They pretend not to notice that he never initiates contact, and flinches when someone touches him. They just stand that bit closer, react just that bit quicker, protect him just that bit more, until it's fine again.
Everyone else pretends not to notice as well, because he's the 'Boy-Who-Lived', he couldn't be abused, could he?
And when he doesn't come back one year after the holidays, surely it's because he got pulled out of school. "He's fine." They say. His friends don't really believe that though. And when Luna says that everyone's infected with wrackspurts, why can't they see? He's not alright. He never was. People just dismiss her as Loony, because of course he was alright. He's the hero. The adults seem to believe that, so of course they're right. If the Slytherins don't buy it either, well, they're evil. Who cares what they think?
It comes as such a shock when it turns out the hero is lying in an unmarked grave somewhere in Surrey. Although, if they stopped pretending for one minute and actually saw, than maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe it would've turned out alright after all. Who knows? And when Voldemort returned, they might've stood a chance. But they didn't. Voldemort returned and took over Wizarding Britain laughably easily because everyone was content just pretending nothing was wrong. The newspapers were shocked that the ministry fell within a day, but it didn't really? Did it? It was falling for a long time before that, when everyone was still pretending not to notice.