Chapter 3: Unwanted thoughts

The golden trio stood up from their seats and headed towards the door. Harry glanced towards the table were the professors were in deep conversation, Dumbledore was talking to McGonagall, Professor Flitwick was talking to Hagrid, Lupid was nodding at something he overheard and Snape was… frowning. Harry wanted so much as to find out what had the Professor in such a sour yet emotional mood, even now he tried to hide his emotions making a straight face but failed as his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion and thoughtfulness. Harry sighted, even if this was a new year, people had changed, he had changed, He lost his Godfather, the only person he had left an- wait that wasn't exactly true, but he was the only relative he had had left. Sirius's death haunted Harry almost every single day but he never let it get to him, Lupin was always there to pat him on the back, Hagrid was always there to provide comfort and hospitality, as for Dumbledore, he was there to remind Harry that he would never ever be alone again, He was there to assure Harry that he could be anything but alone, Harry was around people that cared for him even if he never realized it.

He sighted once again and noticed Hermione's concerned look, he remembered three days ago up in Gryffindor tower, he had let himself unfold not being able to hold the emotion and Hermione was his shoulder to sob on and he didn't feel ashamed of the situation, a little unusual, yes, but never ashamed. He told her how he felt, how his Godfather's memory made him feel, and she understood, she didn't ask any "why's" or any "How's", she just listened and offered comfort, and that was all he wanted. He trusted Ron of course but never did he trust the redhead would understand, because he had never lost almost every single person he ever cared about.

Hermione nodded, showing she understood, this wasn't the first time Harry wanted to take a different path and be by himself for a bit. He always came back, smiling, hiding the fact that he had shed tears that had been stored since the incident. She knew Harry was the strongest person she had ever met, not only physically but also emotionally.

" C'mon Ron, lets head to the tow-"

She was cut off by the abrupt snickering and flattering accent coming her way.

"What are you waiting for Granger? Go on out of here, we superiors want to be the last student to leave the hall, leaving behind dignity". Malfoy smirked as Crab and Goyle high fived him for making such a "smart remark", in their opinion.

Hermione's expression darkened, but she kept her persona cool and collected.

"I think dignity is something you lack Malfoy.." Her words trailed off as she saw the blond raise an eyebrow. He answered after a few seconds of looking at his fingernails in a cocky way.

"Did you say something…? I think I just heard a load of Mudblood" Draco hissed through gritted teeth.

Ron tensed beside Hermione, clearly wanting to take a blow at the blond but she held him back by the sleeve of his robe. She was calm, the wrinkle between her brows slightly aggravated, she was doing all she could not to punch him again like third year, or stupefy him for that matter.

Harry came behind them, the blonde hadn't noticed him since he was far behind hidden by Ron's large head.

"Piss off Malfoy" Harry hissed, eyeing the blond warily.

Draco smirked but quickly turned defensive.

"Or what Potter!?, you and you're little group of DA members going to hex me?" Draco challenged.

The deep voice that came from behind had the back of Hermione's ears turned red, Ron's expression pale and Harry's words frozen.

"Is there something wrong here….Mr. Potter? Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked keeping his tone ice cold.

The blonde gestured his eyebrows at Harry and looked towards his Godfather.

"Not at all, just briefly reminding my fellow classmates… their position".

Harry caught on to the sour way Draco had said "Classmates", but not as much as he caught on to the fact that Snape didn't comment any further. Merlin, he wanted to hex the Professor more than he wanted to hex Draco.

" I assume you all have classes to attend to" The professor challenged. "Move along".

Draco gave one last look at Harry that probably said a million hexes and curse words and turned away, having Crab and Goyle follow him like two lost puppies looking for their owner.

Snape looked at the trio expectantly until they moved along.

"Bloody git" Ron murmured under his breath.

Harry now was stressed with thoughts and Draco was now something else to think about, he seemed weird, he now bothered them occasionally as if he needed to do it not because it came naturally like it used to all those years ago. He was also missing some classes, no doubt skipping them for whatever reason.

" Im going up to Gryffindor tower to get my books" Hermione announced, and she got an incredulous look from Ron as if she was mental, they all went up to the tower right after lunch to get their books, but she was hinting at Harry to see if he had other plans before heading to Ancient Runes.

"I'll catch up with you guys" Harry said giving a reassuring smile avoiding the questioning face Ron had.

Hermione tugged at Ron's arm while saying something that had the redhead's attention fully.

"C'mon Ronald, I'll help you in 3.0 seconds with your Transfiguration essay that is already overdue"

The redhead sighted with evident relief, Merlin, it's about time she helped him.

Harry laughed, even in his worst days, he had something to make him smile, Hermione and Ron were the best thing that ever happened to him.

Harry made his way to the grand staircase and went downwards; it almost looked like he was headed to the dungeons. He walked towards the deserted portrait at the end of the left wall. Poor Portrait, nobody used it, the man would just look around with bored expressions, often fidgeting with his pointed wizard hat.

As Harry neared him he stood straight and eyes opened wide with relief.

" Harry Potter…" The portrait said, "It's about time you come by here!"

Harry smiled at the man.

"I know, sorry, DA meetings are done with"

The portrait wore a shocked expression but did not comment further.

"Secret's aren't meant to be kept" Harry murmured under his breath, only he, Hermione and Ron knew the password of the portrait, being the shortcut to the seventh floor.

The man smiled as his door slung open and Harry stepped inside.

Ron was holding his head in frustration.

" How in Merlin's name to you put up with these!" He said to Hermione as she laughed.

"It's called paying attention and following instructions".

"I just don't understand how we will use "Crinus Muto" in our daily life" Ron challenged.

"You never know Ronald" Hermione sighted in frustration.

Ron threw his hands up and looked at her incredibly. "Yeah, as if any of us wants to change our eyebrow color!"

"Halloween of course" Luna said making them jump, Merlin ,were the hell did she come from!?.

Seeing their shocked expressions she answered their unspoken question.

"Don't worry, this is a new spell im working on, traveling through places without actually being there…it's quite fascinating" and with that she left in a spoof leaving behind faded smoke.

Ron turned his wide eyes towards Hermione.

She shrugged her shoulders. " Hhhmmmm Halloween…" she thought

Ron leaned back. "It's not like she needs a costume". He kept his laughter in until Hermione slapped him across the shoulder.

" Ron!".

He smiled as their laughs joined in with each other. He had to lighten up the mood, more than that he needed to keep his mind off of Harry, he didn't want to ask what was wrong with him, because knowing Harry, every little detail of things could worry him.

"C'mon now, he have 3 minutes to get to Ancient Runes". Hermione placed a tired hand to her forehead.

Harry walked the empty hallway that was the seventh floor. He came to a stop and tried to think of how much he needed a-

And before a picture formed in his mind of what he wanted the Room of requirement's door appeared before him. Every time he needed a place, here it would lead him, every time he wanted time for himself, here it took him. He walked in the room and a couch was already there , beside it a mahogany night table with tissues. He rolled his eyes, oh c'mon…..

But the amusement that the tissue brought to him weren't necessary, because the tissues spoke for themselves. He knew that when he was in stable condition to head back to reality the box would be empty, if it wasn't magically re-filled of course. And so he sat in the couch leaning forward with elbows on his legs. He let the unwanted thoughts come to surface, vulnerable he was, and nobody would know, because this was his place of release, it was here were he didn't feel alone at all, even if his surroundings were glassed walls and stone covered floors. Here he stopped being " Harry James Potter, the bloody boy who lived", here he was just Harry.