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Chapter eight – Suspicions
Harry awoke with a start. This feels unfamiliar… What the..? This isn't my bed, it's too wide. And the ceiling is… Right, Hogwarts… Hogwarts! I'm actually here. Today's gonna be interesting… Harry opened one side of the hangings surrounding his bed and peeked out at the room. No one else appeared to be up yet.
He unpacked some of his things and went to the bathroom. After a shower he changed into his new uniform (Walking around in a dress is going to take some getting used to…) and smeared some hair gel (from a bottle he'd stolen from aunt Petunia before departing Privet Drive) into his hair, combing it as flat as possible. Looking into the mirror he grimaced. His left cheekbone was still a bit swollen and the bruise covering it had turned a dark bluish color. His nose also looked a bit bruised up. Wonderful.
As he reappeared in the circular room his new roommates had unfortunately awoken and were all busy getting ready.
Harry ignored them and walked over to his trunk packing a bag of some paper, a ballpoint pen and all his schoolbooks as they didn't yet know which classes they would be having today.
"Hey you! We never actually introduced ourselves yesterday. I'm Michael Corner", the dark-haired boy whose name Harry hadn't remembered the day before said with a cocky grin. "I've heard a lot about you from my dad you know, they've put you pretty high up on that hero pedestal in the wizarding world. Making you sound all special. You look pretty ordinary to me, I guess you hide it pretty well, huh?" Corner continued in a doubtful tone raising an eyebrow. "Did you get into a fight or something?" He asked pryingly, looking at Harrys bruised face with curiosity.
Harry looked at this annoying individual named Michael Corner for a moment before replying. "That's none of your business." With that he turned his back on the four other boys, leaving the room.
He made his way out of the common room and down the winding staircase. Thankfully he'd been paying attention the night before as they were shown the way to the common room by that prefect, and he soon found the Great Hall.
Apparently he was early as there had been few students crowding the hall ways and not many were yet seated in the great hall.
Harry sat down close to one end of the Ravenclaw table. It was the end closest to the staff table. Harry helped himself to some porridge and covered it with milk, thankful there weren't much people in the hall yet.
He finished eating quickly, getting more uncomfortable as more students soon filled in and some of them sat down not far from him, looking at him every now and then. No one took a seat all that close though as he glared at anyone who appeared to be contemplating venturing into his close proximity. He really didn't feel up to handling any morons this early in the morning, especially not on his first day of school. His hostile looks seemed to keep anyone who would have approached him away at the moment, which he appreciated.
Having eaten he wanted to get out of the now much too crowded room filled with the chattering voices of hundreds of students.
Right, I need my schedule first. I hope they plan on handing them out soon. Hopefully before any of those idiots gawking at me start asking me any dim questions. Hmm, that ceiling IS kind of cool… I wonder how they did that. It's much cooler than a skylight, I want one of those in some room whenever I get a house of my own somewhere…
"Excuse me, Mr. Potter? Here's your schedule for this semester", a very short wizard who was suddenly at his side squeaked.
Harry who had been lost in thought staring at the ceiling jumped in surprise before staring at the small man and accepting his schedule. I need to start paying better attention. It's a bit embarrassing even Hagrid manages to sneak up on me. It's more understandable with this guy, he's tiny… "Oh, thank you, umm…"
"I'm Professor Flitwick, I teach charms but I am also the head of Ravenclaw house", the tiny man swiftly informed him. "As I am your head of house you're free to come to me about any problems you might have or if you're wondering anything", Flitwick added with a reassuring smile.
Harry nodded. "Thank you Professor Flitwick", he said before looking down at his schedule. He seems tolerable enough. That's good… Now where am I going?
He eyed his schedule thoughtfully a moment before realizing the Professor had not continued down the table to hand out the rest of the stack of papers he was holding.
Harry looked up again throwing Flitwick an enquiring look. "Mr. Potter I must request that you come with me after I've handed the rest of these out. Don't worry, I'll inform the teacher of your first class that you have a valid excuse for your absence", he said looking a bit hesitant. "No need to look so worried Mr. Potter you are not in trouble, just finish your breakfast in peace and I will be back in a while", he said with another reassuring smile before finally continuing down the table.
Harry looked after him disbelievingly. Now what? He's going to make me miss my first class? What the hell!? What does he want to talk about anyway? What is wrong with the teachers at this place? They're either insane, weird, gossiping about me; quite indiscreetly I might add! or making me miss my first class without even giving me an explanation. This has better be good… Harry was getting increasingly annoyed as he sat waiting with his arms folded over his chest.
An older Ravenclaw student actually approached him trying to make small talk after a while. Harry rudely brushed said student of with a glare before going back to his silent moping. Being polite to idiots with their inane attempts at conversation when he was in a bad mood was not Harry's strong suit; he found it tiresome enough when he was in a good mood. He knew they were only interested in talking to him because he was famous.
His eyes wandered to the teachers table. Turban-man was nowhere in sight, he must have already finished eating like most; the hall was slowly emptying as the first class of the day was approaching. Which I will apparently not be attending Harry thought bitterly.
That's the teacher Turban-man was talking to yesterday though, Harry thought, noticing the black haired man with the big hooked nose seated at Dumbledore's left.
As if he had felt Harrys gaze said man looked up, meeting Harry's eyes. The man's already grim expression immediately turned into a glare.
Harry glared right back, refusing to be the one to break eye contact. Now what's this guy's problem? He's looking at me like I killed his favourite goldfish, made fish sticks and tricked him into eating them or something. He looked kind of sour before, but this is ridiculous. What did I ever do to you asshole? Harry intensified his glare thinking about all the people who had annoyed him one way or the other all throughout his life. The hook nosed man sneered, his expression filled with contempt.
God I'm going to kill myself if I have to stay surrounded by these people for seven years. This isn't going to work out, maybe I should have gone to a regular school where there are at least some sane people. But then I'd have to live with Them. Even with that dumbass Corner, I'd rather share habitation with those four than the Dursleys, I suppose. Seriously, this guy won't look away either. Harry snickered a bit, raising an eyebrow. That's kind of childish of him. Okay I'm doing it too but I'm eleven and I realize it's childish of me… That guy's got to be over thirty. Wonder what he teaches anyway? If he does teach that is… Maybe he does something else around here, like Hagrid. But he doesn't really look like the janitoring type or anything along those lines… I think he's a teacher… Yeah, you keep glaring weirdo, I can keep this up all day if you want to.
"Mr. Potter?" the squeaky voice of Flitwick sounded at Harry's side making him flinch in surprise, unfortunately breaking his eye contact with the mysterious glaring teacher.
"Yes Sir", Harry mumbled a bit grudgingly.
"If you would please follow me", Flitwick said, walking as briskly as his short legs would carry him towards the doors. Harry grabbed his bag, throwing another glance at the High table. The mysterious glaring teacher wasn't looking his way anymore.
Harry hurried after Professor Flitwick who led him up several staircases, through a few corridors and into a long rectangular room with rows of beds along the walls. It looked kind of like a small hospital. Flitwick closed the door behind them turning to Harry.
"I'm afraid I must hurry along to teach a class, Professor Dumbledore will be here shortly to talk to you. The reason you're here is because a few of the professors who got a look at your face yesterday alerted me of some concerns, and having seen you up close myself I understand their alarm", the professor said in a serious but mild tone.
Harry just looked at him questioningly. "…Huh? What do you mean? It's just some bruises, nothing serious…" Flitwick held up a hand signaling for him to be quiet.
"I understand this is not something you find easy to talk about. I really must go, I have a class waiting. But if you need someone to talk to about this or anything else that's troubling you my door is open later. Madam Pomfrey is right next door and I'm going to send her in before I go. I would have liked to stay and talk to you about this but I'm already running late", Flitwick gave him an apologetic look, squeezing his right shoulder in a reassuring manner before crossing the room and exchanging a few words with someone in the adjacent room through a half-open door. He then turned to leave through the door he and Harry came, but before exiting he turned to Harry once more. "It is going to be alright Mr. Potter, you have nothing to worry about", he said before exiting with a last apologetic smile.
What the hell was that about? These people are completely nuts. Now what? Harry scanned the room incredulously and spotted a woman, whom he assumed was Madam Pomfrey, coming out of the adjacent room.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter, I'm Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse", she said with a serious but friendly expression.
"Um… Hello?" Harry stared at her confusedly.
"If you would please have a seat", she said gesturing towards the closest bed.
"Okay… Could you perhaps tell why I'm here though?" Harry asked while taking a seat on the bed.
"Didn't Professor Flitwick explain that?" She asked in surprise.
"Yes, he said something about it being because I have some bruises on my face… But couldn't that have waited? Seems a bit unnecessary to miss my first class just because of that…" Harry trailed off in slight exasperation.
"Yes, that is why you are here. Those are some nasty looking bruises; I have a salve which will heal them in just a day or two. I'll apply it now, and then I want you to put the salve on tonight as well as tomorrow morning and possibly tomorrow after dinner as well if it is not yet gone by then. It should help some with the swelling also", she stated in a businesslike tone. "Do you have any other injuries?" She added sternly looking him in the eye.
"…Um, no… "Harry said hesitantly with his eyebrows raised. Wow, talk about making a big deal out of nothing… I mean come on it's just a bruise… And why is she looking at me all suspiciously, like she thinks I'm lying?! I don't understand these people, at all. Why would I be hiding an injury from her? What…?
Then the doors to the hospital wing swung open and Dumbledore swept in. He made his way straight to Harry and Madam Pomfrey who was still looking at Harry suspiciously.
"Hello Harry, I'm so pleased to meet you my boy!" Dumbledore said with a big jovial smile.
Harry winced. He truly hated overbearing people who acted all familiar with people they didn't know. He hadn't liked what he saw of the headmaster the previous night and he liked him less by each second he spent in his presence. He was too… cheerful. It was unnerving.
"Professor Dumbledore", Harry replied coldly nodding at the headmaster who was beaming down at him.
Dumbledore's smile faltered for a second. "How have you been Harry? Do you like it here at Hogwarts so far?" Dumbledore asked warmly.
"Well… Yes. But I have not even been here 24 hours yet as you know… And I have yet to have had an opportunity to attend any classes", Harry said pointedly looking at Dumbledore as if he were a complete moron.
Dumbledore looked somewhat contrite at that. "Yes, it is most regretful that you should miss your first class, but do not worry Harry, it is merely one class and it will be easy for you to catch up; the first lesson of each subject is merely introduction and I am certain your classmates will fill you in on anything of importance you might have missed." Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling in a manner Harry instantly disliked. "There is an important reason as to why you here after all", Dumbledore said the twinkle in his eyes dimming.
"It has been brought to my attention that you have some injures... I must agree that this does look awful", Dumbledore said in a much more grave tone of voice watching Harry's face intently.
Harry only just managed to refrain from rolling his eyes. Him too? What is this? How sensitive are these people, getting all worked up over a simple bruise? God. I mean I know it's in my face and it looks kind of ugly, but seriously, it's not like there's any permanent damage. It's a damn bruise, it's going to fade away before they're done fussing about it at the rate they're going. These people ought to get their priorities straight; don't they have jobs to manage? The headmaster must have a lot of time to spare seeing as he can waste it hanging around here fussing over a meager bruise… They're staring at me. I shouldn't tune out like that… But it's hard not to in this kind of company.
"Really headmaster, it's just a bruise, nothing to worry about", Harry told him in a reasoning tone.
"How did you get this bruise Harry?" Dumbledore asked gently looking at him with a thoughtful expression.
Harry blinked. What difference does that make? Nosy people. There's no way I am telling them that I walked into the wall at Kings Cross before the barrier opened. That's just too embarrassing. Hell no. So what am I going to tell them? I could just say that it's none of their business, it isn't. But this is the headmaster after all, he will probably not appreciate being told to keep his nose to himself. Hmm, they're staring at me again… I should probably not have waited so long before answering his nosy question…
"It is alright Harry. You can tell us. You are safe here, please tell us the truth", Dumbledore said soothingly looking at Harry with a, for him, unusually gloomy expression.
Harry looked at him blankly. What? "You are safe her;" What's that supposed to mean? Why would he need to reassure me of that? Why am I really here? What are they planning? If he would assume I didn't think I was safe here there must be a reason why I wouldn't be, but he's trying to lure me into a false sense of security… Harry narrowed his eyes watching them attentively. Or is my paranoia getting away with me again? I do not trust these people. There's something they're not telling me. What are they looking for? What do they really wish to know? Harry realized he had sat contemplating for quite a while again in silence. Oops.
"Why do you want to know that? I don't see how it matters", Harry finally settled for.
"Of course it matters", Dumbledore said still looking very thoughtful. "Please Harry, tell us what happened. Do you have any other injuries, covered ones?" Dumbledore asked quietly looking Harry up and down speculatively.
"No. Madam Pomfrey already asked that, and no I don't. I don't see why you would think I do", Harry said annoyed.
Now Madam Pomfrey spoke up again. "In that case you wouldn't mind changing into a hospital gown so that I can check you over just to make sure?" she said holding out a tiny piece of fabric. Harry's eyes widened.
I'm not getting undressed in front of them! Are they kidding me?
"No. I'm not taking my clothes of", Harry stated in an offended tone, folding his arms in front of his chest stubbornly. "If I was injured, why would I hide it knowing you could fix it for me? That's insane", Harry said exasperated.
"You won't tell us how you bruised up your face so badly", Dumbledore stated sadly "As you would hide that I can't help worrying that you might also hide other injuries, rather than having to explain how you got them."
"Okay, fine. I walked into a wall, happy now?" Harry muttered, looking at the floor in embarrassment.
Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore stared at him for a moment. "Harry… I don't want you to lie. You can tell us the truth", Dumbledore stated, a disappointed look painting his features.
"What? No, that's what really happened." Harry said looking up sharply.
Dumbledore shook his head slowly looking dejected. "Okay Harry. If you say so. You should go now, to make it in time for your second class of the day", Dumbledore said gently.
"Let me just apply the salve before you go", Madam Pomfrey said firmly before carefully applying the sticky mess to Harry's bruise. "Now remember to put some of this on tonight and tomorrow morning", she said handing him the small jar.
"Okay, thank you Madam Pomfrey", Harry replied. He hurriedly grabbed his bag and stuffed the jar inside it. "Goodbye Madam Pomfrey, Professor Dumbledore."
"Goodbye Harry. If you change your mind and want to talk about anything that might be bothering you remember that my door is always open, my boy", Dumbledore said cheerfully, but his voice also held an underlying note of sadness to it.
"…Right. Sure", Harry said giving the headmaster a quick what's-wrong-with-you? look before almost running out of the hospital wing.
What in the world was all that about? I figured the headmaster must be senile, but the rest of them? What is wrong with people in this place, they're all insane! They make no sense whatsoever. Wait, where's my schedule? Oh no… As Flitwick had announced that Harry wouldn't be making it to his first lesson he'd simply shoved his schedule inside his dress- Ehm, robe-pocket. Now it wasn't there anymore.
It must have fallen out when I sat down on that bed. Meaning I have to run back there. Sigh. I hope Dumbledore has left at least. No such luck. As Harry returned to the hospital wing a few minutes later he could hear Madam Pomfrey's and Dumbledore's voices coming from the adjacent room (which Harry could only assume was Pomfrey's office) as the door was slightly ajar.
Maybe I can just sneak in and grab it, they can't see out here. Great, there it is… Harry grabbed the wrinkled paper still lying on the bed he'd sat on for the strange interrogation and was just about to leave, when the conversation coming from the other room caught his attention.
"- Harry Potter." They're talking about me.
"I know he's Harry Potter Albus, that doesn't change the fact that he's an eleven-year-old boy, a child. You saw all the warning signs too. He was ashamed to tell us what had happened to his face. You saw how he looked at the floor, refusing to meet our eyes… Then his explanation, after a long silent pause, where he was obviously trying to come up with a plausible lie, he said he'd walked into a wall. It's always a wall or a door. The stories are always something along those lines, it's so obvious. He's abused."
"Poppy I know what you mean, I felt it too... He's so different from how I had… He's not anything like I thought he would be… But we don't have any proof. Until he actually tells us they're hurting him… We can't just assume anything, maybe he did get hurt in an accident. I can't believe they would… He's Petunia's nephew, they're his family. I can't believe they would treat their someone of their own blood badly. We must be mistaken, Harry said himself that it was an accident…"
"Oh Albus you fool, of course he did. That doesn't mean it's true. He shows so many signs. Can't you see how guarded he is? How distrustful he seems? It's all there, those muggles are mistreating him."
Dumbledore gave a long sigh.
Harry quietly snuck out of the hospital wing unnoticed. He rounded a corner before leaning his back against the wall behind him. They think the Dursleys beats me up. Harry laughed. His laugh soon turned bitter though.
They may not hit me, but they never treated me any good either. They ignore me. When they don't they provoke me. Talk me down. They hate me and they always made sure I knew it.
'It's all there, those muggles are mistreating him.'
It doesn't matter what they think anyhow. Now I at least get what they were trying to get me to say. Still. It was just a damn bruise. What they've done to me is so much worse than a bruise. But they won't care about that because it doesn't show. Not in a way that they'll understand anyhow.
Harry abruptly took off running through the corridor to get to his lesson, transfiguration, which was thankfully on the same floor. He made it there just on time.
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