Chapter 10
Harry stormed down from Dumbledore's office towards the potions lab hardly seeing who he passed as he cursed Dumbledore in his head. How did the old fool imagine that he could just forgive Ron and allow him back in to school? At least when he had used unforgiveable curses he was being controlled by the Dark Lord and Ron couldn't understand that but wanted him to be forgiven?
"Fuck him," Harry swore softly, turning the corner into a dark corridor he used as a short cut to Snape's room.
"Thought I might see you here," a voice interrupted Harry's thoughts making him look up.
Harry saw the hate filled face and began to shove past the person blocking his way.
"Y'know Harry, I can't believe we used to be friends, should have listened to my Ma when she said you were bad news."
"Get lost Seamus," Harry said, trying to step around him.
"Joined up with You know who yet? Ron told me how much you'd changed. Think it's funny to get a good guy suspended do you?" Seamus stepped to put himself squarely in Harry's way.
"I don't want to hex you, but I will, now move!" Harry said in a low voice.
"Yeah perfect, what are you? King Death Eater? I'm glad Hermione isn't here to see you like this. It would break her heart Potter. And being all over Malfoy all the time. What's that about? Fag."
"Who else would he be all over? You?" Draco drawled from behind Seamus. "Trouble Harry?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle," Harry said.
"Oh look, it's your boyfriend," Seamus said sarcastically.
Harry gave Seamus a hard stare before pulling Draco around him into his arms.
"Yes he is, do you have a problem with that?"
"I have a problem with all unnatural freaks of nature."
"I have a problem with your attitude," Harry snapped back.
"I have a problem with someone who puts their supposed friends in hospital or gets them expelled," Seamus retorted.
Seamus drew his fist back to throw a punch at Harry. He was stopped by Crabbe grabbing his hand from behind. Goyle moved around to put himself between Seamus, Harry and Draco.
"Can't face me alone eh?" Seamus snarled.
"You're not worth my time," Draco said calmly, taking Harry's hand and walking off down the corridor leaving Seamus with Crabbe and Goyle. "Are you ok? I was coming to meet you."
"I'm fine," Harry shook his head, slightly red faced with anger.
"Ignore that idiot, tell me, what did Dumbledore want? Did you tell him where to go?" Draco asked.
"I...I don't want to talk about it right now, I need some space, I'm sorry," Harry pulled his hand free and ran down the corridor vanishing from Draco's sight.
Harry ran through the passages, heading away from the dungeons, not seeing where he was going.
"Fuck this," Harry grabbed a fistful of his own hair and pulled hard. He sank to the floor, a little out of breath from running.
"Harry? I was just looking for you, Dean said that you were fighting with Seamus," Neville appeared out of the corner of his eye.
"I have to get out of here," Harry muttered.
"Are you ok Harry?" Neville asked.
Harry stood up and turned on the spot, breaking the apparating barrier around the school and vanishing, leaving a shocked Neville behind him.
With a loud crack Harry appeared in Muggle London down a side alley. He looked down at his school robes and with a flick of his wand transfigured them into jeans and a warm jumper. Harry looked around him and headed off from the alley towards the crowds of people.
He wandered without a sense of purpose of direction for a couple of hours before ending up outside an abandoned looking shop front in the heart of muggle London. Harry leaned forward and said his name before stepping through the glass and into St Mungo's hospital.
The usual array of bizarre magical injuries and accidents surrounded him as he headed for the permanent spell damage ward without speaking to anyone. He pushed open the door and walked up the narrow corridor of beds before stopping at the foot of one. Harry took a deep breath and turned to see Hermione lying in bed peacefully, as if she were sleeping. Harry swallowed a lump in his throat as he walked up beside her and sat carefully on the edge of the bed. He took her unmoving hand gently in his.
"Hey 'Mione," Harry said softly. Her face showed no movement or recollection, her eyes remained unfocused watching nothing at all.
"I just, I wanted to tell how you sorry I am, I should have worked harder at Occlumency, I should have been able to block that bastard out of my mind. I shouldn't have let you come with me to the ministry that night."
Harry gulped down a sob as his best friend lay so still. "Everything's gone wrong 'Mione," Harry continued, a tear trickling down his face. "Ron hates me, most people hate me. He used an unforgiveable on me and now he's been suspended. He'll never talk to me again. Most of the school think I'm Voldemort in training again, only Draco...Malfoy and his friends believe me. I'm in Slytherin now. Can you believe it?"
Harry wiped away the moisture on his face with his spare hand. "Dumbledore's being a bit of a tool too, I know you wouldn't like me to say that, I know he is old and wise, but seriously 'Mione, I think his mind is going a little in his old age. I think...I think I was wrong you know, because Draco's great. I know you would laugh to hear me say that. No I'm not mad, I think...I think I might love him 'Mione. He's really different to how we thought and..."
"That is good to hear," a voice from behind Harry said, making Harry jump up into the air in shock.
"Merlin, Lucius! What are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"I could ask you the same thing Harry," Lucius replied. "I had a floo call from Severus to say you had vanished from school grounds, Dumbledore felt the apparition shields being broken and a student saw you apparate. A seemingly impossible task given Hogwart's history."
"I just had to get away," Harry explained. "I didn't think about it, it just happened."
Lucius laughed. "I was sent to search for you, along with others. I had a feeling you might end up here."
Harry looked at Hermione, his hand still holding hers.
"I needed to see."
Lucius put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder.
"I need to send a message back to Severus Harry," Lucius said, conjuring a patronus. "Tell Severus I have Harry, he is safe."
The silvery eagle form of Lucius' patronus soared off into the distance.
"Now Harry, we will have to get back to school," Lucius said.
"I don't want to go," Harry muttered. Lucius considered his options.
"How about tea? I know a good restaurant near here," Lucius offered.
Harry looked up at him and nodded. "Let me just say goodbye."
Lucius gestured for Harry to go ahead.
Harry bent over Hermione and pressed a kiss on her forehead.
"I'll see you later ok 'Mione?" Harry snapped his fingers and a white rose appeared. He laid it gently on her pillow before turning towards Ginny's bed and conjuring up a lily to lay next to her. Harry turned back to where Lucius waited patiently.
"Let's go then," Harry sighed. Lucius put his hand on Harry's back and guided him gently out of the hospital and towards a small restaurant nearby.
"Drink Harry?" Lucius offered.
"Please," Harry replied, a little lost in his thoughts. Lucius smiled to himself and ordered a bottle of red wine for them to share as they were seated at a small table. The restaurant was pretty empty being early in the evening.
The waiter brought the wine and menus over.
"I recommend the dragon steak," the waiter suggested as Harry examined the menu.
"Cool, dragon steak and chips then please," Harry said cheerfully.
The waiter raised an eyebrow and Lucius winced at the chips being ordered.
"Linguine with salad please," Lucius said.
The waiter nodded and wrote down the orders leaving the two of them alone. Lucius poured them both a glass of wine which Harry swigged down quickly.
"Thirsty?" Lucius said teasingly.
"Yes, oh," Harry looked at the empty glass. "Sorry!"
Lucius waved away his apology and poured another glass for Harry.
"Bad day?" he asked
"You could say that," Harry replied. "I had to meet Dumbledore who wants me to forgive Ron and allow him back into school and become best buddies again like nothing has happened."
He waved a hand as Lucius' face began turning red with anger. "Don't worry, I told him where to go, walked out of the meeting and said I wouldn't be discussing it further. Severus would kill me!"
"As would I! That old fool," Lucius snapped.
Harry grinned. "Yeah, that's what I think. Then I bumped into an old housemate who wanted to be best friends."
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," Lucius pointed out.
"Nu-uh! Sarcasm is amazing and totally Slytherin," Harry laughed.
Lucius held up his hands in mock defeat.
"Anyway, he wanted to talk about me and Draco, being, you know..."
"Yes, I know," Lucius smiled at Harry's embarrassment. "I believe my son is going rather apoplectic at your little vanishing act."
They were interrupted by the arrival of their meals. Harry's eyes widened at the biggest steak he had ever seen accompanied by a huge bowl of chips.
"Merlin!" Harry said, taking in his food.
"I hope you are hungry," Lucius laughed.
Harry nodded and they began eating.
"I didn't mean to run off and worry people, I just felt like I needed to get out and then suddenly I was out," Harry said.
"No, no, it is admirable, I've never been able to break the apparition barrier around Hogwarts."
Harry smirked slightly.
"I didn't know you could apparate yet either."
"Oh yeah, for a while now."
Harry sliced into his dragon steak.
"This is amazing," Harry sighed.
Lucius laughed at Harry's enraptured expression and reached out to stab a chip from Harry's bowl.
"Oi! Get your own food!" Harry grumbled with a smile.
Lucius laughed and they continued to eat.
Eventually Harry was full and shoved his plate away from him.
"I couldn't eat any more if you paid me, I think I'm going to burst!"
"I'd rather you didn't, these are new robes," Lucius replied.
Harry grinned at him and drained his wine glass.
"We do have to head back to Hogwarts now, before I get in trouble for keeping you out when you shouldn't be."
"I guess," Harry's expression fell slightly.
"So are things serious between Draco and yourself then?" Lucius asked as they stood to leave.
"I think so, I mean, I can't speak for Draco, but well you heard what I was saying to Hermione," Harry blushed a little. "Are you ok with it?"
"Draco has always been free to choose who he wishes to be with," Lucius said.
"Yes, but we are both boys you know."
"Really?" Lucius teased. "I hadn't noticed."
"Sarcasm!" Harry pointed out.
Lucius laughed. "I hope you will be joining us for the Christmas holidays Harry."
"I would love to, but I will have to ask Severus."
"The invitation includes Severus too," Lucius said.
Harry nodded as they headed to an alley to apparate back to Hogwarts.
"Thanks, I will tell him," Harry said.
"To Hogsmeade please Harry, we cannot all break apparition wards."
Harry grinned before disapparating with a crack, closely followed by Lucius. They reappeared at the gates of Hogwarts where Severus was waiting for them.
"Don't ever do that again you foolish boy!" Severus scolded Harry, pulling him inside the gates. "Thank you for finding him Lucius."
Lucius gave a small bow. "My pleasure Severus. Don't be too hard on him, he had his reasons. I will see you later Harry."
Lucius apparated away, leaving Harry and Severus alone.
"I'm sorry Severus, I didn't think, I should have known you would be worried," Harry said quickly.
Severus scowled at Harry who hung his head.
"Worried? I nearly killed Albus trying to find out what he had said to you!"
"Nothing important, just about Ron and allowing him back to school. I refused by the way."
Severus hissed, "Never!"
"I know, I said that," Harry gave Severus a small smile.
"We'd better get you back to the dorms. Draco is worried sick, he's been rather annoying since you left," Severus sighed.
"What? You aren't going to take points from me?" Harry asked.
"Not that you don't deserve it," Severus muttered.
"Ha! I always knew you were biased!" Harry crowed.
"Shut up idiot boy," Severus snapped, pushing Harry ahead of him towards the castle.
A/N- Thanks for all the reviews guys! You make my day when I read them :) And thanks to everyone who is still adding to follow this story.
DMHPSasunaru- Sorry I dont have any pics :( Wish I did though!
ShioriRose- I have Hermione/Ginny plans for the fic don't worry!