A.N: first chapter I give you Potter from the outside, then it will be Potter's pov next chapters.

The Party

Thump

Thump thump

Thump

That's the music, and this is me, Ashley McHale, awkward and nervous as I observe the room. I could come up with at least twenty different things I would rather be doing this very moment but, as Debra said, none of those things would be an improvement to my social life. So here we are, or I am, since Debra has since ditched me to find a dark corner to make out with Keith, her sort of boyfriend.

I'm standing by myself in a corner leaning on the chimney structure trying not to look so out of place but by the small smiles of pity I'm getting I know I'm failing. I nod my head warily along with the music thumping around the room when Matt Richards approaches my direction. He has two drinks in his hand and staring right at me. Pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose I try to become invisible as Matt Richards is the last person I would hope to garner attention from.

"Hi, Ashley right?" Matt shouts at me over the music

I can't find it in me to respond so I just nod.

"I saw you standing here by yourself and thought to give you some company." He says holding out a cup of swirling brown liquid towards me.

I want to refuse it, I know I should if the stories of Matt are to be believed but I can't bring myself to say a word. So the end result is me standing there like a total spaz awkwardly staring at the cup held out to me. Matt seems about to comment when a hand clamps down on his shoulder. By the look on his face I'm not the only one surprised to see Harry potter standing behind him.

Two things you need to know about Potter: one he is an incredible soccer player, the second is that he may be a functioning schizophrenic. Matt looks worried and I can't say I blame him, though I am relieved his attention has shifted from me.

"Hey harry, what's up man?" Matt says turning to Harry

Potter gives a tight smile "Just enjoying the party, what's going on here?"

Potter says it casually but Matt seems a bit pale. Matt says something quick to Potter and tries to push past him but Potter tightens his grip on Matt's shoulder making him pause. Potter whispers something I can't hear into Matt's ear. Matt flushes then raises the drink he offered me moments ago and relinquishes it to Potter's waiting hand before striding away. People around watch him go casting curious glances between him and Potter before landing on me.

Potter looks down to the drink briefly before turning to me. He gives me a warm smile before gesturing his head which I take as code for me to follow him, because he walks away navigating around other wary party goers. I hesitate a moment before I follow him.

People watch us leave and I wonder if I shouldn't just duck out of the party before Potter notices, but I hear Debra's voice in my head saying "You can trust Harry". That's another thing about Debra. She is friends with Potter and never fails to stick up for him when someone doubts his sanity. She's never told me where her faith in Potter comes from, so as I stare at his broad back I can't help searching the room for an excuse to skip out on him. We walk into a kitchen where the music is low enough to hear the sound of conversations from people milling about. A table in the center of the room is dominated by alcohol. I stand and watch as Harry pours the contents of Matts offered drink into the sink.

"So can I get you anything?" Harry asks turning back to me and gesturing to the gathering beverages.

I'm stunned momentarily at how…normal he sounds. I'm not sure what I expected to be his first words to me but I wasn't expecting them to be asking to get me a drink. Words desert me so I settle for a shrug. Harry smiles picking up two Styrofoam cups bringing them to the keg manned by a lanky tall guy who smiles at the sight of Harry.

"Harry Potter as I live and breathe" Beer guy exclaims but doesn't hesitate to fill the two cups in Potter's hands.

"Tom" Potter says with a nod

"Last person I expected to be making an appearance tonight" Tom says with a raspy laugh.

Potter chuckles "Yeah well Nathan politely explained it was being thrown in my honor before threatening to have my testicles if I didn't come"

Tom's smile stretches into a grin before he climbs atop one of the strewn kitchen chairs and catching everyone's attention with a sharp whistle

"Alright you lot, be in awe as we are graced by the presence of Harry Potter, without whom we wouldn't have our victory over Brighton and this here festivity. So how's about a cheer for Potter!" with Tom's finish the crowd now joined by others whom stopped to hear what was being said give a cheer.

Potter looks chuffed as he waves Tom off and he makes his way back to me. Caught up in observing I had forgotten he was getting me a beverage. Potter holds out a cup to me which I take with a blush I can't help. The term 'don't judge a book by other peoples perspectives' comes to mind as I think Potter seems like a proper bloke once you get past the messy tangles of black hair and drown in his piercingly green eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asks watching my internal dialog play out on my face

"Yeah" I say a bit too quickly and sharply. I feign a chuckle to hide my embarrassment.

"Thanks" I add when I'm done being a freak.

Potter nods. "I've seen you with Debra, you're friends right?"

"Yeah, I'm Ashley." I say in case he didn't catch my name through the three years we have been in almost every class together.

"She's the reason I'm here actually." I continue before taking a generous sip of my beer, then tastefully letting it spill back from my mouth to the cup.

Harry lets out a laugh "Tastes like heaven right?"

Blushing I shake my head trying to will the taste from my mouth.

"You don't have to drink it, just hold on to it and no one will try to offer you anymore spiked drinks."

I flinch at the confirmation that the drink Matt offered me was spiked but also feel complimented that Potter thinks guys would be lining up to serve me drinks, even spiked drinks. I sigh looking up from my cup to catch Potters eyes.

"This isn't exactly my scene." I admit

"That makes two of us, I'm sure you've heard I'm not exactly the person to be around when I'm off the pitch." Potter says taking a drink from his cup.

I shrug causing my glasses to slide to the base of my nose and attempt a smile "You seem pretty stable to me so far."

Potter returns my smile and pushes my glasses back up the bridge of my nose "Don't be so sure, I might just surprise you."

I don't notice until an interruption, but the scene must look odd, the two of us bespectacled outsiders beaming up and down at each other.

"Well then what's this Harry, not trying to get my best friend drunk now are you?" It's Debra walking to join us looking between the two of us.

Harry gives a nervous chuckle and we both shift stance away from each other to face Deb.

"We were just discussing our ineptitude for social situations." Potter says and I'm surprised at the ease at which he talks to Debra with.

Debra chuckles at that "You seem to be doing fine so far Mr. MVP."

Potter seems uncomfortable "None of that now, I'm just here to have a good time."

"Is that really why you're here? You've never really been the party type." Debra says looking serious all of a sudden.

Potter nods returning her serious look with a tired smile. "So I've been told but I'm turning a new leaf."

A smile blooms once more from Debra. "Right then, and how is that going for you?"

"Jury is still out but Ashley here thinks I'm pretty stable so far." Potter gestures to me.

Debra turns to me looking a little apologetic, I'm not sure if it's for ditching me for Keith or stealing Potter's attention from me.

"Sorry about abandoning you, you know how I get when I'm with Keith" she says to me.

"It's fine." I say but it's not.

"Here." Potter returns with two bottles of bright red liquid.

I didn't even notice him leave.

"I'm sure this tastes better than the beer." He says but he doesn't look so sure as he hands us the drinks.

"Let's head outside, I heard they're starting a bonfire." Debra says.

"Don't you need a permit for one of those?" I ask as we head out back.

"I guess we'll find out once the Pow-pow come a-knocking."

"Pow-pow?" Potter questions with a chuckle from behind me.

Deb chuckles and relates her infinite knowledge of police slang names "The 5-0, the Pigs, the Care Bears, the Ducks and Geese's-"

"I think we get it." Potter interjects, "and it's just Geese not...Geese's."

We have a good laugh about that while Debra leads us outside where more people are gathered around watching and cheering as some guys chuck wood together at the center of the gathering. Potter groans coming to stand at my side. We are standing at the top of the stairs leading to the backyard. In our elevated position we can see most of everything and everyone. Judging from the sloppy movements and uncaring jeers to light it up, I can tell most of everyone is either drunk or getting there.

"Well this couldn't possibly go terribly wrong." Deb says watching the spectacle.

"I'll go check it out." Potter says warily walking towards the crowd.

I twist of the top of the drink and take a sip. It's surprisingly very tasteful and sweet with only a hint of alcohol in taste. I immediately take a larger drink not minding the warmth spreading through my stomach. We watch as Potter clears the crowd and received with cheers and high fives from people Deb clarifies are football nuts or drunk enough not to care for Potter's rep. Potter talks to one of the guys holding a container of what I guess is flammable substance. We can't hear what they're saying, so Deb and I supply the conversation with what we assume is being said.

Potter: 'hey man this is really a bad idea, why don't you give me the flammable substance and we all just go get a beer.'

Guy: 'No man I'm already drunk. I would love nothing more than to burn something down with no regard for safety.'

Potter: 'Ok man let's do this, but let me get the fire started.'

We drop the game and watch in fascination as Potter takes the container and moves towards the pile of wood. Walking around the pile he pours out transparent liquid onto it. Coming around full circle he sticks out his arms drenching the inner pile with the last of the liquid. He turns to the gathering and gestures for everyone to move back. People only watch him with amusement clearly not intending to move. Potter takes a deep breath and I think he sighs before he turns to take a box of matches from flammable container guy. He strikes a match and the crowd stills, watching the match with anticipation. Potter turns to look at us with a shrug before turning and flicking the match at the foot of the wood. Fire ignites at the foot of the wood making a full circle around the wood before moving inwards and igniting in a blaze that makes my eyes water. Blinking back the tears I hear a roar go up as people cheer at the blaze. The initial blaze turns down a notch settling to be a normal steady bonfire.

Deb leads me to some lawn chairs where we settle down while Potter makes his way back to us. I lean back against the chair with a sigh and can't help the smile that stretches out on my face. All things considered this isn't so bad, considering I was on the verge of a spiked drink minutes ago.

Potter gets delayed with people trying to catch his attention, so Deb and I trade words while we watch him.

"I don't get it." I admit.

"Don't get what?"

"Harry Potter. I mean I've heard the rumors and thought they were a bit exaggerated but still, I expected a little truth from them."

"Harry's just misunderstood is all. If you know him past all the rumors and gossip then you'll know his a good guy." Deb says with a wistful smile playing on her lips. It's irrational, but I'm a little jealous she knows him better than I do.

"Did something happen between you two?" I ask with a suggestive eyebrow.

Deb seems a bit nervous from my question but sighs it out to give me a smile.

"Nothing like that, but we have a little history" She says before taking a swig of her own drink.

In other circumstances I would drop the topic then, but I've got a good buzz going and have no patience for sleeping dogs.

"What kind of history?" I ask watching Potter nervously comb a hand through his hair while he talks to a random girl.

Deb gives a pause and I get the feeling she's staring right at me but I don't turn to know for certain. A silence stretches and I'm in doubt she'll answer my question, but she does.

"Harry saved my life."

Ominously said without a follow up, her statement leaves a heavy feel. I want to know how he saved her life but I get the feeling if she was going to tell me, she woulda.

"Heavy." I say with an exhausted exhale, fixing my glasses up the bridge of my nose. More habit than necessity though.

Deb chuckles and asks how I came into Harry's company, effectively changing the subject, but I don't mind. In-fact I wanted to tell her how we ended up together. Not together together, just together you know.

I relate the story and she listens but we both keep our eyes on Potter who ducks away from attention and starts to head our way. I finish my tale a little before he reaches us, but Debs conspiratorial chuckles while her eyes dart between me and Potter are a little embarrassing.

Uncertainly smiling, Potter pulls a crate to sit on and asks, "Did I miss something?"

I shake my head in the negative.

A familiar song wafts from the house and reaches my ears. An idea pops into my head, and wanting to stay with the warm buzz that is currently making its way through my system, I decide to voice it. "Do you dance, Harry?

From the sideways glance Deb gives me, I can see she is happy with my initiative. Potter on the other hand looks considerably surprised.

"I can, to an extent. Are you offering to?"

A blush settles itself on my face as I quickly slide my glasses up again. No reason to back out now, I nod and take Harry's hand as he leads us to where the other party-goers are shuffling around in their drunken version of a dance. Thankfully, the music is upbeat and fast, so there is no embarrassment of doing a slow dance. We start dancing and weaving and laughing as we try to outdo each other in impersonating the drunken dancers around us. Harry pauses and grabs his head with a wince.

"What's wrong?" I stop dancing and look at Harry worry ridden. Too soon? He looks up as if just noticing I am there but a strained a small smile on his face.

"It's nothing, maybe just a little too much to drink." With that he starts dancing again, but I can't drop the feeling that something is wrong with him. Tom appears dancing behind Harry. It's as if he has drunk the whole keg of beer he was guarding earlier.

"Ey, Potter! Nice ta see ya finally scorin' with tha ladies!" He says whilst stumbling about in his drunken stupor and manages to trip over his own feet and land sprawled into Harry's back. Harry's arms wrap around me almost protectively as he struggles to stay upright against Tom's weight.

"Sorry 'bout that!" Tom drawls as he leaves, laughing and joining a drunken girl dancing.

"Are you alright?" Harry asks.

This is when I understand. Harry is nice, kind and apparently protective. He is an admittedly handsome, normal guy as well. I'm not sure where these rumors came from that had left me wary of him, but right now, I don't care. Because Harry Potter, schizophrenic or not is hugging me and I don't mind. Well not exactly hugging really but it's a tomato potato kind of thing. Not trusting my mouth at the moment, I simply nod. Harry lets me go with a deep exhale. His hands fly to his head again as he clenches his jaw in, what I assume to be, pain. Concerned now that this is the second time it's happened, I decide it's time we get away from the wild thrashing bodies and sit somewhere a bit quieter.

"Come on, let's go sit down." Harry nods and allows me to steer him to the chairs Deb and I were sitting on earlier.

"Ungh…!" Was the only warning I got before it was my turn to catch Harry. His hands are knotted in his hair, knuckles turning white from the grip and he is panting hard. I can feel him trembling in my arms.

"Harry! Hang on, I'll sit you down and get a glass of water! I can call a doctor or something if you like?"

Because I keep a doctors number on hand right? It's nothing but nervous chatter because I'm having a slight case of fear about me. Harry seemed to still in my grip before he slowly brings himself up.

"No... No, it's alright. I think I might just go home. See you Ash." See there? He called me Ash, giggle worthy but not now.

He turns and starts walking away. Every once in a while I see him stagger. Shocked a second by the nickname, I regain my senses and called out.

"Wait! You're not fit to drive!" The only answer I get was a backwards wave. Well I doubt he's driving anyway but what could I say, you're not fit to walk? I sigh and nearly jump out of my skin when Deb speaks up from behind me.

"What's wrong with Harry?"

"He said he had a little too much to drink and decided to go home."

"That's weird," Deb muses. "He had only one cup with him since we met up"

I looked back to where Harry's disappeared.

"I take it all back. I don't understand him at all." Deb gives me a funny look as I resign myself to the previously discarded lawn chairs.

"Want to have a three-way make out with me and Keith?"

That's Deb joking and this is me sighing.

T.B.C

This will be continued but not for a while.