Chapter 4. Visitor and dancing
"Hermione, what I'm about to tell you right now can come as a shock."
Hermione looked worried while she sat down on the sofa.
"I eh… There's someone else here," said Harry slowly.
"Ow Harry, have you finally found someone?"
A big smile showed on Hermione's face. Harry looked with big eyes towards Hermione while Draco started to laugh.
"Well, he found someone alright," Draco said while he kept laughing. Harry looked mortified and tried to ignore Draco.
"No," said Harry quickly. "What I'm trying to say is…"
Harry stopped talking, not quite knowing how he had to say this. "Is it possible that I can see a ghost that no one else can see?"
Hermione looked worriedly towards her friend when he said this. She started to tell him something but Harry wasn't able to follow her story because Draco was being a big distraction. He stood right in front of her and was telling him what kind of a stupid question that was because they already figured that one out. They already knew Harry was the only one who could see him.
"Please, shut up!" screamed Harry angrily when it became obvious that he wasn't able to hear anything what Hermione was telling him. Shocked Hermione closed her mouth and stopped talking. Draco wasn't listening however.
"Well done Potter. How do you want to find out what's happening if she can't talk?"
"I wasn't talking to her, I was talking to you," he said while he looked at Draco angrily.
"Uhm Harry," said Hermione carefully, she found that Harry was acting very strange.
"Hermione, there is someone else here, a ghost. A very irritating ghost," said Harry while his angry gaze was still fixed on Draco.
"Harry, maybe it's better if you go to St. Mungo's."
A silence followed these words of Hermione. Harry at first not believing that she said this.
"You think I'm crazy?" said Harry slowly while he looked at Hermione. He started to laugh hysterically and Hermione as well as Draco stared at him somewhat shocked.
"That's it. I'm starting to turn crazy. You're not here Malfoy. It's my sick mind who shows me this."
Hermione was surprised to hear Malfoy's name, but was more worried about Harry's behaviour at the moment.
"Stop Potter! I'm real and you can see me. Stop it Potter!"
Draco tried to stop Harry. He was standing right in front of him and waved with his hands to get his attention. But Harry just kept laughing hysterically. He wanted to slap Harry to get him out of the state he was in now, but as expected he couldn't hit him.
"Harry! Harry stop it!" said Hermione who found Harry's laughing creepy. Maybe the fight against Voldemort had left more damage than they had first thought. She glanced again towards Harry and decided to play his game.
"Harry wait, it's…," Hermione swallowed, why was it so hard to lie? "It's possible to see a ghost that only you can see."
Harry stopped laughing and stared towards Hermione.
"I think I've read something about it. If you want I can look it up?"
"See Potter, everything will work out in the end," said Draco, glad that Harry had finally stopped his hysterical laughter.
Harry ignored Draco and nodded towards Hermione. "That would be great."
"Alright, I guess I'd better go than," said Hermione while she stood up and walked towards the door. "As soon as I find something I will let you know. Goodbye!"
Hermione had already left through the door. She was shocked how she had found Harry. She really had to talk with Ron, maybe he could check on Harry this afternoon.
Harry plumped down on the sofa and sighed deeply.
"That went rather well," said Draco while he sat down on the ground near Harry, the only place at the moment were he was able to sit was on the ground.
Harry looked at him with a look that said 'you've got to be kidding me'.
"You think this went well? Well?" said Harry unbelievingly. "Hermione thinks I've gone crazy. She didn't know how fast she had to get away from me."
Harry sighed and closed his eyes.
'I'm here alone. The ghost of Malfoy doesn't exist. I'm here alone.'
Harry kept repeating these sentences in his head. He stood up. Maybe all he needed was some fresh air. He grabbed his jacket and quickly left the penthouse.
After a long walk and an outside lunch he came back to the penthouse. The fresh air had helped him to calm down, and more importantly, Draco had not been with him during his walk. He hung his jacket on the hat stand and looked around the penthouse. His face fell when he saw Malfoy sitting on the sofa. It seemed he had learned to sit on furniture now. He decided to ignore Malfoy and walked towards the kitchen to grab a drink. Halfway pouring the glass he was startled when the doorbell rang. Quickly he walked towards the door to see who was there and to let the person in. He was surprised to hear that Ron was there, but quickly saw the logics of this all. Hermione must have told him how crazy he was and now she had sent Ron to check on him.
Ron took a lot longer to reach his apartment because he refused to use the 'scary thing called elevator'. Out of breath he finally reached Harry's penthouse. Harry had already counted on this and stood ready with a glass of water in his hands.
"Hey Harry," said Ron who gladly took the glass of water while he was still trying to catch his breath.
"Oh no! No, no, no, no," said Draco angrily while he walked towards them. "You're not letting that Weasel in here."
Harry smiled only and walked with Ron towards the sofa. He sat down and Draco had to see with big eyes how Ron also walked towards the sofa.
"Please let him go somewhere else. Not in my house," Draco said while he looked with big eyes to what was happening. Harry just kept seated and acted like he didn't hear him.
"Just go to the kitchen counter and let him sit there, but not…"
But it was already too late. Draco groaned while Ron sat down on the sofa.
"My beautiful Italian designer sofa," cried Draco.
"Harry, I don't know what you've told Hermione but she was rather shocked. She insisted that I had to check on you to see how you were doing."
"Ow that," said Harry while he started to laugh. "So she fell for it?"
"You mean…," said Ron while there was also starting to show a grin on his face.
"Of course it was a joke," laughed Harry. "You don't really think that I'm able to see a ghost no one else can see?"
Ron started to laugh with him.
"Hermione really fell for it, she was ready to commit you to St. Mungo's."
Harry smiled with Ron. "If I get tired of playing the hero I could always start an acting career."
Draco however, wasn't too happy with Harry for making his presence seem like a joke. He knew for sure that Harry was still able to hear and see him, but ever since his walk he was constantly ignored. He started to talk angrily at Harry, but soon figured that it was useless. Harry kept his eyes focused on Ron's face and didn't seem to hear Draco. Alright, that called for some bigger actions, thought Draco while he started to dance around Ron. While he was doing this he started to sing the terrible song from this morning. Now Harry had to acknowledge him.
Harry heard how Draco was speaking angrily at him, but he kept his eyes focused on Ron. Draco had suddenly appeared in his life and hopefully he would disappear again just as soon. He smiled with Ron when he joked about one of the new Beater's from Ireland. He was surprised when Draco finally stopped talking to him, but he was also happy about that. Now he could hear what Ron was telling him a bit easier. His relieve however wasn't for long when he suddenly saw Draco dancing around Ron and hearing him sing that terrible song from this morning. He forced himself to keep his eyes on Ron, although it was harder and harder to do so. The movements Draco was making were working on his smile muscles, but if he suddenly started to laugh Ron would probably also think he was crazy.
"Ron," said Harry before Ron could start another elucidation this time about the Seeker from Bulgaria.
"I really found it very nice that you came to visit me, but would you mind terribly to leave again? I'm starting to feel a headache coming up and I think I'd better lie down."
This wasn't an entire lie. It constantly trying to concentrate on Ron while Draco was screaming made sure a headache was coming up. If Ron would leave he only had Draco's whining to endure.
"But of course Harry. I will tell Hermione that she was worrying over nothing again."
Harry smiled, happy that this was solved. Ron stood up and walked towards the door.
"Don't forget to come by this Sunday for brunch?"
Harry smiled. Brunch with the Weasley's was always a family thing and although Harry wasn't really family he was invited every time.
"I'll be there," said Harry while he walked Ron towards the door.
"Alright, till Sunday!" said Ron while he began his long journey downstairs.
"Till Sunday!" Harry said while closing the door behind Ron. Finally he had some rest.