Pathways
By: AngelDusterBuster
Summary: Two Roads, two pathways, two decisions. One decision is easy but wrong. One is hard but right. When times get tough, which will Harry choose?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of J.K Rowling's wonderful characters. Although quite frankly like every other person in the world with I did!
Chapter Nine: Losing Control
"You're kidding right? This is some kind of sick joke", Harry repeated for the second time. It'd been only minutes since Hermione and Ron had sat him down with frowns covering their faces.
"Oh Harry I'm so sorry but…this Christmas I really need to be home", Hermione couldn't help but feel herself tearing up inside by the look of pain she'd caused her best friend.
"You know what…it's okay", Harry through his hands in the air, "Really I don't mind coming all the way out here to see you and then ending up spending Christmas alone. Really I don't"
Moving to sit directly next to Harry, Hermione spoke next, "You won't be alone if you tell Remus…."
"Oh please", Harry almost laughed out loud, "Are you kidding? After what happened today?"
"What happened after class today anyway?", Ron finally spoke again a hopeful look upon his face.
"Let's not even get into that", Harry stood up yawning, "I'm kinda tired so if you don't mind…"
"Your breaking my heart Harry", Hermione stood up putting her arm around him, "you used to tell us everything"
"Things are obviously different now", Harry pulled away, "I'm not mad really I'm perfectly fine with this"
"We still have all week", Ron reminded his friends, "Plenty of time, right?"
"Forever would be better…oh Harry can't you please come back? We miss you so much and having to let you go a second time will be even harder", Hermione brushed away a tear.
"Look you have Sam now. And I have my new friends. You have to admit your life is much less stressful and complicated without me", Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione.
"It doesn't matter you're my friend and…"
"Hermione sweetie could I borrow you for a moment?", Sam's voice rang through the common room.
"Sam…were kind of having an important conversation here", Hermione looked up at her boyfriend.
"More important than this?", Sam smiled kissing Hermione on the lips.
"Okay not in front of me how many times have I told you!", Ron complained staring at the two in horror.
Shutting his eyes in annoyance Harry took the opportunity to slip away as he whispered, "Goodnight guys it's nice to see you've adjusted so well"
That evening when after Harry had been directed to the flat where he would be staying he immediately collapsed on this bed. He'd never had so many emotions running through his head before. Anger and a feeling of hurt surrounded his head.
"How could so much have changed so fast?", he whispered to himself stretching over and grabbing something from his trunk. It was a picture. A picture of Hermione, Ron, and him from last year.
Jumping up startled by a knock on the door Harry quickly grew silent hoping the intruder would go away.
"Harry?", Someone spoke through the door.
"Sirius?", Harry whispered to himself recognizing the voice immediately as he rushed to the door.
Upon opening the door he was startled to see that indeed it was Sirius Black, his godfather, "Talked to Remus then I'm guessing"
"Harry we need to talk about this", Sirius grabbed for Harry's arm and guiding him down the hall, "You know better then the behavior you've shown today"
"Why does everyone keep saying that!", Harry suddenly felt himself burst, "Maybe I don't, it's not as if my FATHER was around to teach me manners!"
"Your just not going to make this easy are you?", Sirius eyed down Harry, "He wanted to be there Harry"
"Why do you have to take his side? I know you didn't pick to have me as your godson but…why can't you stand behind me for once?", Harry blurted out all the emotions in his head finally bursting out, "why?"
Sirius stared down at Harry for a moment taken aback by what he'd said, " Harry it's not that I'm choosing a side and…I am behind you I am. It's just I think you've got your priorities in the wrong direction on this one"
"I'm trying to deal with all this I am…but it didn't help throwing me in a new school. It doesn't help that Hermione is going out with some creep. And it doesn't help that no matter what Ron tells me I can't help but think he's found a new best friend. And it really doesn't help when you come barging in here telling me my priorities are in the wrong place!", Harry half yelled holding back tears he felt in the back of his eyes.
"Harry I…look I don't know where all that came from but…if you're that unhappy at Jefferson maybe we should switch you back", Sirius suggested still surprised by Harry's behavior.
Holding his own arms roughly so they wouldn't shake Harry shook his head, "No…that's not even it. I like it there Sirius I do but…I miss not being here. I just don't know what do anymore!"
"I hate seeing you like this…just tell me what you want me to do and I will", Sirius took a step toward Harry.
"You want to help me? Take back the last four…five years of my life", Harry turned to walk back to his room.
"I'm sorry", Sirius muttered.
Turning around Harry looked back at Sirius, "My entire life has been a lie Sirius. How did you expect me to react?
And with that Harry disappeared down the hall leaving Sirius standing alone to ponder the words Harry has just recited.
The following morning Harry reluctantly slumped down the great hall. He knew exactly what was awaiting him. And it was exactly what came.
"Morning Harry", Hermione said cheerfully sitting down across from him.
"Ugh I hate mornings", Ron slouched sitting down next to Harry.
"I don't know why", Hermione rolled her eyes, "where'd you run off to last night anyway?"
"Oh you noticed?", Harry looked up from his breakfast for the first time.
Looking at Harry oddly Hermione spoke up, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing Hermione nothing", Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey ladies Sam's here", Sam joked sitting down next to Hermione.
Spitting out his milk Ron glared at Sam, "Excuse me!"
"Rough night Harry?", Sam looked over at Harry who had dark circles showing under his eyes from lack of sleep.
Remaining silent Harry stared down at his breakfast again.
"So what are we going to do today? No classes after all", Ron said happily.
"I intend to start studying for our exams", Hermione grabbed a huge book from her backpack.
"But they're ages away!", Ron announced.
"Closer then you think and I'm already going to lose next week because I won't have time to study when I'm home", Hermione reminded Ron who didn't seem to care.
"Hey Harry guess what?", Hermione turned to her friend, "Sam here isn't going home for the holidays either"
"Oh", Harry muttered not knowing what to say.
Harry however who had been so busy trying not to look up hadn't noticed the looks Ron and Hermione were exchanging.
"Oh right…come on Sam we've gotta go uh do something", Hermione said oddly rushing to sand up.
"We do?", Sam looked over at his girlfriend.
"Yes we do", Hermione replied grabbing Sam's arm and dragging him out of the great hall.
"Alright out with it", Ron commanded after the two were clearly out of site, "Something's bothering you. Is this still about Sam?"
"Yes…I mean no. I mean I don't know", Harry shook his head.
"Is this still about you feeling replaced? Because we went over this and…"
"No Ron it's not about that! Whenever he comes around I just feel this weird vibe coming from him", Harry explained to Ron.
"Well he's just Sam so…nothing dark arts about him", Ron laughed.
Harry jumped up upon hearing this, "I'll see you later"
"Wait…there's something else isn't there? Possibly something to do with why Sirius is here?", Ron watched as Harry flinched a little at the mention of his godfather, "I saw him this morning"
"You know it's really not any of your business", Harry fought the sudden thought to run away.
"I'm making it my business", Ron stood up showing the definite height difference between the two, "what's going on?"
"Nothing I can't handle", Harry assured Ron.
"When did you become so…so independent? It's me Harry…Ron? Ring a bell? You can talk to me…or Hermione for that matter", Ron reminded Harry, "Please"
Sighing Harry finally gave in, "Remus got mad at me about what happened in potions…and we got in an argument. Then Sirius comes and confronts me about it and…the whole stories rather boring so let's go find Hermione shall we?"
"So why don't you just apologize to Professor Lupin?", Ron asked Harry.
"Because"
"Because why?"
"Because I don't want to", Harry finally ended up with.
"You're being stupid we both know you're not going to have a good holiday until you fix things", Ron reminded Harry.
"You don't know what's going so stay out of it okay?", Harry reluctantly snapped at Ron.
Staring at the boy who used to be his best friend Ron felt almost speechless, "What happened to you Harry? Why can't things just be like they used to?"
"Because Ron they aren't. I have my own world at Jefferson and you have your world here. It was a mistake to come here and try to collide them together. It was a stupid mistake", Harry replied.
"Mistake? So your saying this friendship…everything from the past few years is a mistake?", Ron took a step away from Harry.
"I said it once and I'll say it again. Maybe things are better off this way, and you know what? I'll be out of your way by tomorrow because there's no need for me to stick around here"
And with that Harry stormed out of the great hall this time leaving Ron standing to wonder what exactly was going on with his best friend.
Wondering the halls later that day Harry had one thing on his mind. And that was how he was going to announce that he wanted to leave Hogwarts. So, it was a shock when he bumped into Sam.
"Watch you step Potter", Sam snapped taking an oddly large step away from Harry, "wouldn't want to turn your little friends against you would you?"
Staring at Sam with awe Harry grew furious, "I've had enough of you and your stupid comments! Look you want to be another anti Potter friend then go down the hall there and look for a boy named Draco Malfoy. But honestly I have enough crap in my life without having to deal with an idiot like you"
Fixing a grin on his face Sam replied, "I'm the idiot am I? Face it Potter they don't need you anymore. They have me"
"There's something strange about you", Harry glared at Sam, "and I will figure it out you can bet on that"
"Oh you do that Potter, and we'll see who believes you by then. How many people do you seem to have on your side these days?", Sam held a hand out as if counting on his fingers.
When Harry remained silent Sam spoke again, "There's no doubt in my mind that your on to me Harry Potter, but even when you do figure things out. Who will believe you? "
Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews there really starting to add up. Now as you can see things are going to start to get darker in the story. But I'm going to tell you right now if you ask me about Sam I am not going to answer…for obvious reasons.
Giny87- Thank you so much! Every time I hear that it sounds even better…is that strange? Since there always the same words? Oh well…
Kat- Yeah I don't think I'd want to be in his position right now. And congratulations on being one of the first people to figure out something was odd about Sam!
Otaku Freak- Yeah I can't wait to see what's going to happen either! Ha j/k…
-_- Interesting choice of a name…but anywho I understand why you haven't reviewed. It's ok I used to have the same problem until we got a new computer. And the Snape apology…I haven't decided exactly where I'm going to fit that in. Guess you'll have to wait and see!
Mija- I should also say to you congratulations on being one of the first to figure out something odd was going on with Sam. And I'm so glad you guys like my story!
Indarae- Get ready to laugh! Oh I shouldn't leave clues like that but…what the heck it's pretty obvious after this chapter.
Aishiteru Duo- Someone recommended ME? ME? Are you serious? I wonder who it was… And thanks for the birthday wishes!
Anie- Poor you! What on earth could you have done? I was wondering what happened to you though I really was. I just thought you'd lost interest.
Well there you have it! I should get one more chapter out possibly before I leave for Florida. But don't get your hopes to high. Hope you enjoyed this in the meantime!
AngelDusterBuster
AIM Name: WinnergreenQueen
Email Addy: WinnergreenQueen@excel.net
Website: http://www.geocities.com/angeldusterbuster/FFDriveway.html
