Dread. I don't want to open my eyes, because I know what happens when I do, I have to face all the lies that my life has been built around. And then I have to choose if I either want to keep on pretending to be oblivious to the act my 'friends' are putting on. Or I confront them and lose all of the people I care about and who I thought cared about me. Both ways I am the one losing the most and the one who has to make the choice.

"Harry? Wake up mate." Ron urges, and I feel a hand on my shoulder gently shaking me.

Reluctantly I open my eyes and see Ron's concerned blue eyes looking into mine. He is really good at faking his emotions. He probably isn't even concerned at all instead just annoyed that he still needs to deal with me.

"You okay? You are usually the first one up." He says and moves to sit on the edge of my bed. "If you don't get ready you will be late for breakfast."

"I'll be fine. "I mutter. I quickly get out of bed and escape to the bathroom.

Maybe option two is the better choice. I don't know if I can pretend like nothing has changed, I guess I'm not as good of an actor as my best friend is.

I get dressed quickly and hope the room is empty. I much rather like not to have to go through an awkward conversation trying to say something without actually saying it.

"Harry?"

Fate hates me.

"Yeah?" I answer.

"You sure you're okay mate? Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey, just to be sure." He presses.

"I'm fine." I reassure him.

I turn from him and head towards the Great Hall and away from Ron.

The Great Hall was too loud and there were too many people. All of my friends looked worried and are trying to get me to join in their conversation but I just faze them all out and go on staring at my eggs. Why should I talk to any of them? I don't know which of them actually my friends are and which are being paid and bribed into being my friends. Maybe none of them care, maybe I have no one now.

I don't even notice my hand as I unconsciously run my hand over the letter I got last night. I don't remember putting it in my pocket but there it is. I feel the familiar paper between my fingers. I read it over and over last night and each time the words began to feel more reassuring, more truthful, more like the words of a true friend. Is it possible to know someone through only one short letter?

A hand on my shoulder stops my train of thought, and I look up and everyone is looking at me with the same concern in their eyes.

"Harry are you okay? I kept calling your name but you were in some sort of daze."

"Sorry Mione, I'm not feeling very well today."

'It's not even like you care.' Is what I want to say but I can't.

I get up from the table and start to leave. I can't stay here and pretend. I'm not them, I still care about them they were my friends and now I don't know what they are to me. Anyways I mean nothing to them so it shouldn't matter to them that I want to leave.

I ignore the protests of my frien- classmates, I need to figure out which of them are actually my friend by choice and not by payment.

I manage to only get out of the Great Hall before I am stopped by a gentle hand on my shoulder. Hermione must have ran out after me because here she is looking at me with what I am going to assume is fake concern. But I guess after acting for so long she must have a lot of time to perfect her act.

"Harry, what wrong with you today?" Hermione asks.

"I don't feel well, isn't that enough for you guys?" I answer.

I try to keep walking but her grip on my shoulder tightens, and in her eyes I see that familiar knowing look in them, it's the same look she always has when she knows something that everyone else doesn't.

"No Harry. There is something else going on and you are going to tell me what." She says firmly. I can tell from her tone that she isn't going to be swayed from her decision.

"I don't need to tell you anything." I state hotly.

I see a flash of hurt cross her face but I choose to ignore it, I don't need to keep on being affected by their fake emotions.

"Harry! How could you say that? You are my friend and I am concerned about you."

I turn away from her and swallow the lump in my throat and take a deep breath. Time to confront her I guess, then there will be no more of these senseless conversations.

"Really? Don't you mean you are being paid so you need to pretend you care enough that everyone believes it?" I say softly.

I hear her gasp but I don't hear any protests that I am wrong. The little hope that I had, that maybe not all of my friends are all fakes, is crushed and I feel my tears fall from my eyes. I don't care anymore, she isn't my friend anymore so I don't need to hide my emotions from them because I don't want them to worry about me.

I pull away from her grasp and take off down the hall before she can follow and tell me another lie.

I should not of left that little bit of hope. I trusted them and I loved them. I now I am left alone with my tears and no one to comfort me. My chest hurts it has lost too much love in such a little amount of time that it doesn't know how to cope with the change. My only hope now is that I can learn to harden heart so I don't hurt it again, because I don't think it can take more of this.

"Are you blind Potter?"

I look up and see Malfoy glaring at me. I really have the worse luck, both times I am in this state I have bumped into Malfoy. When I meet his eyes I see something cross his face but it disappears quickly before I can identify it.

"Awe, does the baby miss his mommy?" He sneers.

"Leave me alone Malfoy." I try to say but it comes out as a whisper and he doesn't hear it.

I don't feel like trying again so instead of attempting to say anything else I just keep walking. This time Malfoy doesn't say anything else or try to stop me so he can say more. At least I know his hatred towards me is real and I don't need to doubt where our relationship stands. I can count on him to always be my enemy.

I keep going not paying attention to where I am going because I don't care where I end up. I can't go back to Gryffindor Tower because I don't want to deal with all of them right now or even later. Somehow I end up at the lake and I slump against the nearest tree. I am no longer crying and I feel empty since I let all of my emotions free.

I stuff my hands into my pocket and I feel something in my pocket. I wrap me fingers around the folded piece of parchment. I take it out of my pocket and unfold it. I remember every word that was written of the page.

I stare at the parchment, this isn't the letter from last night. I search my pockets franticly. Where is it? I can't lose that letter it has the answers that I need. I feel the tears start to flow as I continue not to find the letter. My only hope is lost. I stop my pointless search and look at the letter that has replaced the other.

I see the familiar musical handwriting and it calms me a bit. But how did this letter end up in my pocket? I don't remember anyone being close enough to put it there. I ignore my suspicion and read the new letter.

My dearest Harry,

I write this with sadness in my heart I feel your despair

But do not forgot that you are still not alone because we are here waiting for you

Hope is a dreadful thing when it is take

Nevertheless it is a wonderful thing when given

We take one step back when we are betrayed

What you need is a friend to help you take a few steps forward

Are you ready to give us your hand?

Forever.

Your Guide

Who is this writing to me? Why aren't they here with me if they care so much about me and how I feel? Are they my friends? Why do they care about me even though we have never met? Can I trust them?

A lot of questions fill my mind and I don't know what to do about this letter and my 'guide'. But I want to believe all of the words they say but I don't know if I can. I look at the letter and see another two lines have appeared

Believe in us we will not lead you wrong

A little faith isn't always bad

Maybe it is good to have a little faith in them. I need to trust someone.

Having these letters keep coming to me at least means there is someone out there who cares about me. I'm not completely alone it seems. I feel a small smile start to form on my lips, this might not be a bad thing that might be nice and trustworthy. But who are they?

The last letter said I would know how to contact them but I don't know how. Maybe I'm not the one who they think I am. And they won't come because it isn't me who they actually care about.

Well having hope for a little bit is better than not having none at all while it lasted.

The humming that fills the room with its sweet song stops abruptly.

"It is time to go get him he has called."

"Finally. Who will go to him first?"

"Rendaro will go."

Rendaro looks up from his book to the two that are speaking.

"When will I leave?" He says

"Now." The hummer says.

Rendaro puts down his book and prepares to confront a stubborn headmaster.

"This will be fun." He smirks and leaves to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore was having a bad day, there was an incident with the first years that he had to deal with early this morning and then Ron had come and told him that Harry went missing after lunch. No one has been able to find Mr. Potter all day.

After searching for a few hours he returned to his office only to find a beautiful young man waiting there.

"Headmaster Dumbledore?" He asks

"Yes. And who might you be young man?"

"I am one of the Masters of the Éclaire Manor, Master Rendaro."

The Éclaire Manor residents are not seen in public ever, they are the wealthiest household in the entire world. But everything that surrounds them is a mystery, almost nothing is known about the family. They are known wizard family yet no one knows where there went to school or the tutor they may have had. Rumors about the power they have suggest they are very powerful.

"Master Rendaro it is a pleasure to meet you, I have heard many good things about you and your family." Dumbledore says.

"As is expected."

"Please have a seat. Lemon drop?" Rendaro politely refuses. "Now why have you graced my halls with your presence?"

"I came to talk about Harry Potter."

So Harry will need a mate. Who should it be Ren, Riley, Chase, or Aiden?

Those of you who aren't familiar with those guys look at my profile.

Review please I want to know how this chapter is