Chapter 7
"Harry!" shrieked Hermione running towards her friend looking excited.
"Hermione" said Harry nodding slightly, putting his hands out to stop her hugging him like she usually would.
"What's the matter?" asked Hermione looking concerned and looking him over critically.
"Nothing, let's just go" said Harry, he had been gone a year and they were acting as though he had only been gone a few days. This was their seventh and final year at Hogwarts, and Harry was sure it was going to be his longest year yet.
"Ok, but you must tell me everything that happened while you were gone!" she said smiling at him as they sat down.
"Nothing much Hermione," said Harry sounding as bored as he felt.
"What did you learn?" asked Hermione excitedly.
"The usual" said Harry eating his dinner, he was hungry, not once did he look up at Severus. He didn't want anyone suspecting, not even his so called best friends.
"Oh, well tell us in more detail!" said Hermione her wide smile faltering slightly.
"There is no detail, unless you want me to drone on about how fast the spells came or how many times I bled" said Harry growling in warning.
"Fine Harry I won't ask" said Hermione, but Harry could see the shock written in her dark chocolate eyes.
"Thank you" said Harry, looking around the great hall in curiosity. He noticed most of the houses were staring at him; he just looked at them all until they looked away. Eating his dinner and looking around some more.
Draco Malfoy was possibly the longest person to hold his gaze, he thought with a smirk as he finished up his pudding. He had taken a chocolate, and toffee coated apple, some ice cream, and chocolate cake for his pudding.
"Harry calm down mate! Or your going to be sick" said Ron looking jealous that his friend had eaten all his, when he could not even manage half of what was on his plate.
"I didn't eat a load of sweets on the train Ron, don't eat stuff on the train and you might be able to eat an enjoyable dinner" said Harry before sighing softly and pushing his empty plate away from him.
"That's right Ron, don't eat so much crap and you will be able to eat your dinner" said Hermione after the shock at what Harry said worn off.
"Mione!" said Ron looking scandalized.
"Well it's true, now shut your mouth its gathering flies" snapped Hermione giving him a warning look.
"Fine" said Ron.
"I'm going to miss not making the first year speech, not being a prefect anymore. But I certainly don't want my head girl badge taken away" said Hermione puffing herself up importantly.
"Congrats Hermione" said Harry sounding bored.
"Thanks Harry, you know it's a great pleasure to be able to be head boy, your father was one, if you had stuck in you may have been head boy too," said Hermione shaking her head softly.
"Thanks for the reminder, and I don't know what was on Dumbledore's mind nor McGonagall's when they made a prankster and trouble maker a head boy, mind you Ron I don't think they go for the brightest" said Harry smirking at their looks.
"Harry what's wrong with you mate?" asked Ron looking hurt and insulted.
"Nothing, but can I ask where they letters are? Oh that's right you didn't send even me one all year. Hmmm… never mind" said Harry sneering lightly he walked away from Ron and Hermione and went straight to his bed. He was not going down to Severus' tonight they both needed their sleep, he would wait a while.
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"What are we going to do? He has changed I think he suspects us, should we go and see Dumbledore?" asked Ron looking worried.
"Yes, lets go and see him, we are head boy and girl we are allowed out, let's go come on before Harry begins missing us. You know we have to keep an eye on him, especially now." said Hermione.
"Ok let's go, and I know Hermione, I'm not stupid" Ron snapping the last bit out.
"Fine, let's go" said Hermione agitated.
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"Headmaster can we speak with you?" asked Hermione coming up the stairs and into the office, the door was open.
"What is the matter?" asked Dumbledore, both McGonagall and Snape where there also.
"Harry's changed, I think he may suspect us, or think we don't want to be friends anymore. We after all did not send any letters" said Hermione.
"Write some letters, I will put them in a box and give them to him, I will tell him I kept them from him for his own good" said Dumbledore bringing out the box.
"That's great Headmaster, thanks" said Hermione smiling, finally something was going the right way.
"Good, Minerva how is everything so far?" asked Dumbledore.
"Fine, and I also think Harry has changed, he seems more aware of his surroundings than before. He is way more confidant, perhaps you made him a little too confidant?" asked McGonagall.
"Oh no, he needs the confidence Minerva" said Dumbledore.
"Very well," said McGonagall nodding her head, trusting the headmaster's decision.
"Now, go back to the common room. You must keep an eye on him, and be his friend, hopefully it won't be for too much longer" said Dumbledore his eyes on the children.
"We will sir, I promise" said Hermione pompously.
"Very well, now please" said Dumbledore his hand pointing to the door.
"Of course sir, goodbye" said Hermione both Ron and Hermione then left the office. They had written the letters in a hurry but they were sure the small amount would do after all Harry didn't get any other letters. Even one would be able to satisfy Harry; after all they were the only friends he had.
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"Harry mate, see how you said earlier about letters…well me and Hermione did send letters" said Ron softly.
"Really?" asked Harry surprised, he knew Ron was lying, he had learned Occlumency and Legilimens all by himself. And Ron, had no mind shields at all, and it was easy to read Ron's mind. Not that Harry really wanted to anyway, he knew Ron was lying.
"Yeah, if you didn't get them then who did?" asked Hermione sitting down beside him, "I mean they didn't come back, we assumed that you had gotten them but could not write back".
"I see, I'm sorry guys" said Harry smiling warmly at them.
"Its ok mate I would have done the same" said Ron patting his friend on the back.
"Don't head into anything without knowing everything Harry! That was unfair how you treated us earlier on! And I don't like it" said Hermione bossily as usual.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really tired, and I'm going to go to bed ok? I will see you in the morning," said Harry yawning widely as if to prove he really was.
"Ok then, I will see you in the morning" said Hermione her lips pursed.
"I'll come with you mate, I'm tired too" said Ron yawning himself,
"Ok," said Harry knowing his friend was far from tired, and agitated at having to come with him up the stairs.
"Goodnight boys. I'm just going to do some last minute homework down here before I go to mine" said Hermione waving at them. When she was alone she smirked, they were in Harry's good books again, everything was going perfect. Sighing softly, she relaxed and allowed her masks to drop, the sickly sweet smile was disgusting.
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"Get up! Breakfast is nearly over" shrieked Hermione, Ron grumbled as he got out of bed, hating the fact Hermione can get into their Dorms but he or the other boys could not get into the girls.
"We're up" said Ron, throwing a pillow at Harry.
"I'll be down the stairs longer than ten minutes I will drag you down there with what you are wearing" snapped Hermione leaving the room.
"Girls eh mate?" asked Ron as he got dressed.
"Yeah, girls" said Harry grimacing, how he hated them.
"Come on we best get moving" said Ron, quickly putting his clothes on. Harry was quicker than he was for some reason. Possibly growing up with the Dursleys taught him to do everything quickly.
"I'm going the now, hurry up" said Harry his school back was already packed for the day so he was in and out basically.
"Wait on me! Mate I won't be another second" said Ron running out of the room, his tie still undone and his jumper half of him.
"I'm hungry" said Harry making his way down the stairs.
"Go and get your school things on Harry" said Hermione looking at Harry.
"No, I like the way I am, thanks" said Harry smiling as he walked passed her.
He had a shirt on, open collar and a loose tie, his black trousers and black boots. His bag casually slung over his back; everyone seemed to think he was cool. Especially with his hair all over the place, Ron and Hermione rushed into the Great hall catching up with Harry.
"You will loose house points being dressed like that" hissed Hermione over at him.
"Actually I wont, I'm not in a mess Hermione, I'm tidy I've just put the clothes the way I want them." said Harry
"Fine don't say I didn't warn you" said Hermione shaking her head.
"Come on mate, we don't want to be down for the cup on the first day" said Ron looking at Harry.
"Stuff it!" said Harry.
