"Lost again, didn't you?" said Fred, looking at Harry's broken chess pieces with amusement. George grinned beside him. "Glad to see there's something ickle ronniekins is actually good at."
"Don't call me that!" said Ron indignantly. Harry just grinned and gathered up the remains of his chess players. "All right guys" Harry yawned , "I'm gonna call it a night." Ron turned to look at him incredulously. "But it's just eight!"
"You can stay up if you want, Ron. I'm dead tired after that quidditch practice." Harry headed up the stairs to the boys dormitory. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Ron starting a game of exploding snap with the twins.
"It's been a very long day" he thought, as he changed and flopped down on his bed, stretching out his aching limbs. He put a hand under the mattress and pulled out a thick, leather bound diary and began to write.
The weather was cool, up on the astronomy tower. The pale moonlight cast shadows all over the grounds. A gust of wind blew through his hair, easing away some of the frustration. He wished he knew someone who could help him. But even if he did, what good would it be? He wouldn't ask anyone for help, thanks to his damned pride. He knew he couldn't escape this. "I am doomed" he thought to himself. Suddenly, the weather didn't look so beautiful anymore.
Today might have been quite good, if it wasn't for Malfoy and his snide comments. You'd have thought I'd be used to it by now. But it still hurts when he so casually brings up his favorite topic - my lack of parents. Sometimes, I try to imagine what my life would've been, had they still been alive… it would be much better than it is now, anyway. I'd have a real home to go to. Sirius would've been there with us
He stopped writing abruptly, lifting up his quill. " All my fault" he thought, "If only I hadn't been stupid enough to fall for Voldemort's tricks, Sirius would still be here." An angry voice in his head whispered maliciously, "Look at what you did, Harry. You are the reason your godfather is dead."
"Yes, I'm the reason." Harry whispered to himself. He stared numbly as a drop of ink fell from his quill and spider webbed across the parchment.
Thinking of Sirius brought back painful memories. Harry shut his diary, stuffed it back under the mattress and dug out the invisibility cloak from his trunk. Wrapping the cloak around himself, he set off to the astronomy tower, hoping for some relief from the accusing voices in his head.
The castle was deathly quiet; all its inhabitants fast asleep. As he climbed the steps, he took a deep breath, silently willing the chilly air to ease away the pangs of guilt. He reached the top and standing in the doorway, he pulled off his cloak.
Just then he saw a movement in the shadows and cautiously, he drew out his wand. As he moved forward a couple of steps, a tall, blonde boy emerged from the shadows; his grey eyes resembling the stormy grey sky behind him. "Malfoy" Harry lowered his wand. "What're you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same, Potter. What's the matter? Couldn't fall asleep? Miss your mum's lullabies, do you?" sneered Malfoy.
"Shut your trap, Malfoy, before I decide to do it for you.", replied Harry.
"Save your breath, Potter, and move away from the door. I don't suppose you're blocking the way just to have a pleasant midnight chit-chat over here, are you?" And he shoved past Harry, the echoes of his footsteps slowly fading away.