{Chapter 2- Something Strange}
The next morning, Harry wakes up instantly the second he felt ice cold water being poured all over his body. He would've cursed the person who committed the evil crime of interrupting his dream with Percy, but he decided against it. After all, he didn't want to seem more insane than people already thought of him.
A chorus of annoying laughter sprints through his ears moments later. The Wizard opens his eyes, shielding them with his right hand from the beam of bright sunlight that almost blinded him. Once he became more confident in his surroundings and less cautious of the sun, he fixes his gaze on a group of a few people standing around him with mischievous smirks planted on their red faces.
"Come on mate, we have to get to class," Ron states, trying to control his booming laughter. Harry forwards his eyebrows as he notices the item Ron is holding, later becoming more frustrated with his idiotic friend.
"You're a dick." Harry unintentionally spats, blushing in embarrassment when he took note of his friend's confused reactions.
"A what?" Neville questions, pursing his lips and tilting his head slightly to the side with curiosity casting over him. Ron and Hermione exchange an unreadable look.
Mentally, the soaked Wizard scolds himself for speaking a word he recently just heard not too long ago. If he wasn't paying attention as intently as he was when Percy was communicating with him, he probably would've missed the insulting word and many others as well. Hopefully, Harry won't make a similar mistake like this in the future.
"A… nothing." The victim sighs, tossing off his blanket and pushing through his friends. "Best you all get out of here… That is if you don't mind seeing me more naked than I already am."
Without a second thought, his friends clear the room, leaving Harry to smile in relief at the quietness. He then absent- mindedly searches through his trunk and selects a few clothes for the day. It takes him a while to settle for something decent but eventually he locates an acceptable outfit he has no problem with. He then locks the door of his room and attempts to change into his clothes while admiring his own place. (That's another new thing about Hogwarts; each student has their own room, now.) Soon enough, Harry is fully clothed and ready for his first day of school.
Walking over to his trunk once again, Harry places his hands on the roof of it, all the while staring down at the messy interior. For some odd reason, happiness boils inside of him like never before, conflicting his thoughts of annoyance towards his friend's earlier actions. He then feels his stomach fill itself with anxious butterflies.
A repetitive loud knock appears at Harry's door, halting the Wizard's brewing train of curious thoughts.
"Come on, Harry! You're taking longer than my sister usually does! We're going to be late!" Ron yelled, causing Harry to avert his gaze towards the door.
"Just a minute." Harry hollered back, closing his trunk harshly, later fixing up his reckless hair and turning on his heel so he could exit his room. He unlocks his door, accidently bumping into Ron on the way out.
"It's about time," Ron says, rolling his eyes playfully, making Harry blush again. "Let's go."
Ron and the rest of the students that was previously in his room, scampers out of Gryffindor house with a confused Harry following closely behind him. The feelings inside the Wizard quickly increases during their journey, in which in turn caused the Wizard to drive himself crazy with unvoiced questions.
What is going on with him? Is the main question that seem to rip through his brain.
"Wonder what the classrooms look like this year." Hermione asks, earning a couple shrugs and an uninterested look from Ron.
Nevill opens up his notebook, scribbling something that only he could read. "Maybe they're bigger this year. Everything seems to be bigger."
"Who cares?" Ron scoffs. "What's important is the food, which is fantastic this year by the way! I didn't think it was possible to make Hogwart's food better than it already was. Man, it tastes like heaven."
Harry bites his lips, feeling his empty stomach. Now that he thinks of it, he hasn't consumed anything since yesterday. All he had was half a loaf of crummy bread and a glass of water.
Hermione rolls her eyes while Nevill laughs in amusement.
"It's our first day of classes and all you can do is think about food. What a surprise." Hermione remarks, gripping onto her lover's hand tightly.
Ron kisses her cheek happily. "You got it wrong, babe. The thing, that's a surprise, is that we don't have to worry about "you know who", anymore. This year is going to be great."
Hermione hums in delight, not noticing Harry's dazed expression. "You're right, I suppose. All we have to worry about is passing our classes."
Nevill nudges Harry's side curiously, earning the couple's attention. "Mate?"
As the feelings that had exploded in Harry finally fades away, the Wizard snaps out of his trance and engages himself in the conversation. "Hmm?"
"You alright?" Nevill investigates, eyes sparkling with concern.
The Wizard licks his lips, not really sure if he is alright. Suddenly, he hears a few noises in the distance and his eyes moves towards the windows in which views the paved courtyard as well as about four first years standing in the middle. Knitting his eyebrows, Harry's eyes grow wide as he finally gathered what the four students are up to; three out of the four students are bullying the smallest one which sadly happens to be the boy that they met last night.
Holding onto his books tightly, Harry dashes towards the group, having his friends running after him. He frowns once he sees the little boy being pushed to the ground by the tallest one.
"Hey!" Harry screams angrily, affecting the other students greatly. The one that pushed the boy on the ground looks at Harry with fear. "What's going on here?"
"N-nothing is going on." The bully lies, violently pulling the boy from last night up on his feet. "Connell, here, just fell is all. Right, mate?"
Harry scoffs sharply, obviously not believing them but feeling thankful that the jerk said the victim's name. Connell hesitantly nods in agreement, sending Harry to feel sorry for him and to also glare at the bullies that arrogantly stands by his side.
"Just get to class." The famous Wizard remarks, watching them tense up. The bullies sneak a glare at Connell but walks away without question. Harry glides up to the sad boy and rests a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" He asks disquietly in a whisper- like tone.
Connell nods again but this time with tears burning his eyes, squeaking out a quick unbelievable, yup.
The hero sighs, now looking back at his mates. "Go ahead, I'll be there soon."
Hermione coughs, looking torn at the current situation. "But, Harry-"
"No, Hermione. Just tell the professor I had to take care of something first." Harry stops her, protectively pulling the freckled blond hair boy close to him. "Please?"
The famous Wizard's friends momentarily exchange wary looks, but eventually agrees with Harry's suggestion and travels down the path that leads to their first class. He's just going to have to miss the first couple minutes of his Defence Against the Dark Arts class in order to set things straight with the younger boy.
When the courtyard is less occupied, Harry lets go of the boy. They stare each other down with unreadable expressions.
Connell clears his throat. "Can you and your mates not tell anyone about what you saw? If this gets out I- Michael and his group will do horrid things to me if anybody else knows."
Shaking his head disapprovingly, Harry exhales a heavy breath. "Why are they treating you like this?"
Connell scoffs. "How should I know? They're jerks and clearly have nothing else better to do."
"If you fight back they won't target you anymore," Harry suggests with one eyebrow raised. Connell didn't seem to like that idea.
"What are you, crazy? If I fight back that will just add to the fire."
"But if you fight back that might also teach them a lesson," Harry added, making Connell's face drip with a mix of consideration and anxiety. "How about I'll teach you a few things that might come in handy? We can start before supper."
Connell scratches the back of his neck. "I- I don't know, Harry. I'm a muggleborn. So clearly I don't have the ability to do such a thing."
The experienced Wizard laughs humorously, confirming his suspicions on why the first year is being tormented by his peers. "Nonsense. One of my friends is a mugleborn and she turned out to be the greatest Wizards of all time. Do you know who that is?"
Connell shakes his head, no. "No clue; who's she?"
"Hermione Granger."
The younger boy's mouth drops to the floor, obviously not expecting that answer. "Hermione is a mugleborn? B-but my mom said she was pure."
Harry shrugs. "Maybe she was told a different story elsewhere. It happens."
"Wow." Connell gasps, still in shock. "Hermione, a muggleborn. Never heard that one before."
"I guess some people don't know of it," Harry said, amused at the boy's reaction. "But most people, here, do."
Connell's face lights up. "So, I can be like Hermione one day? That's brilliant!"
The older Wizard laughs, feeling victorious at brightening up Connell's day. "You sure can be. What class do you have? I'll walk you."
"Uh, um." Connell contemplates, rummaging through his binders to find his schedule. "Charms with Filius Flitwick." He then announces, fumbling a bit with the professor's first and last name.
Harry lets out a short laugh, remembering that class all too well. "Fantastic, let's go then. I have to get to my class also."
The boy nods in agreement and starts running with Harry down the halls. In under ten minutes, they arrive with heaving breaths and hot, pink skin. Harry notices Connell cautiously looking around and not so confidently opening the large fancy door. The two Wizards walk in the classroom, suddenly being put under an unwanted spotlight.
Over a dozen gasps and many people speaking Harry's name flows through the two male's ears. The professor stops talking and lowers his gaze at the cause of the chaos. His eyes widen once he sees the famous individual standing rather awkwardly with his student.
"Nice of you to finally join us Mr. Hugo." He retorted, shaking his head disapprovingly. "And why are you here, Mr. Potter?"
Harry clears his throat and brushes the hair hanging over his eyes. "We had an incident" He starts, earning a begging look from the youngster and a fearful one from the professor. "It was nothing dangerous. Connell just couldn't find his classroom and seeing as we are friends, I decided to help him out."
More whispers escape throughout the room as Harry smirks after somewhat lying to his professor. After saying what he just said, Harry is certain that the freckled boy will become popular for befriending "the boy who lived" as well as possibly being left alone by the bullies that he saw earlier. Harry is actually surprised with himself for lying so smoothly and not displaying any tells during the process. He supposes that he has Percy to thank for that.
"Very well. Mr. Hugo, if you please take your seat," The old creature hums expectantly, "And Mr. Potter, I suggest heading off to class. Wouldn't want to be late, again, would you?"
Harry gulps, not liking being left alone to suffer the many stares of Connell's classmates by himself. "Course. Sorry for the interruption."
After witnessing the professor's frantic nodding of approval, Harry slowly turns on his heel, making a beeline for the door while glancing at the sea of students to search for his new friend. He instantly found Connell in the back right corner of the class and smiled at him. Just as he was about seven feet away from the door, the teacher calls him out.
"Before you go Harry, can you please do me a favor and burn this portrait for me. It's horrifically ugly and been in my class far too long." He smirks, purposely wanting Harry to perform a difficult spell in front of his students.
Harry forwards his eyebrows, expecting to be asked to do many things for a countless amount of people but never expecting to be taking advantage of this early in the year. He turns around anyways.
Clearing his throat, he tried not to notice the many eyes staring intently at him while removing his wand from his back pockets and pointing his wand at the portrait that is hanged behind the professor on the left front side of the room.
Concentrating on the picture, he forwards his eyebrows even more, before eventually waving his wand dramatically and yelling out one single word, "Incendio!"
The picture then erupted into flames and disappeared, sadly leaving a few burned marks on the wall. Afterwards, the entire class momentarily gasped and the professor just smirked.
"Is that all professor?" Harry asks dryly, already hating the idea of people coming up to him and asking for help.
"For now," He answers, before walking towards his desk and shuffling through a few salmon colored papers.
Harry quietly scoffs and turns around to the face door. He heads towards the door once again, sending Connell a curt nod and receiving a weak, but grateful, smile in return. Thirty seconds later, the famous Wizard finally escapes the class and makes a detour in the direction of his own assigned classroom.
Halfway there, confusion begins boil inside of him for no reason.
While continuing his journey, he attempted to not focus on the feeling and just focused on the trouble he might get into for showing up to class late. When he entered his classroom, however, the feeling just amplified and for some reason he wishes he wanted to... kill someone?
The minute he entered the classroom, as predicted, his professor scolded him for arriving late, in which in turn forced Harry to explain his actions for a second time. Strangely the teacher just dismissed him and allowed him to locate a seat with no consequence. Luckily for Harry, the previous feelings finally faded away but fear took control of his system instead as black dots started to blur his vision.
He averts his gaze towards an empty wooden chair, that was obviously saved by his clever friend, Ron, and smiled weakly. Ron grinned at Harry. The Wizard couldn't hear anything and for some strange reason, he felt like he was drowning.
His mate face slowly masks itself with concern, but the Wizard ignored the reaction and also tried to ignore the suffocating feeling he's currently experiencing. Taking one step forward, his head begins to repetitively pound while his body begins to involuntarily shake. Harry's eyes widen in fear as he felt himself struggling for air.
No longer having the strength, Harry drops his books, making his professor and the rest of the students stop looking so seriously at the board in front of them. Suddenly, Harry felt Percy's strong presence. His heart beat increased just then while his body throws itself to the floor and sends the Wizard into a paralyzing deadly oblivion.