Imperfect One-shots
Written by: Ie-maru
Note:
My computer's back up!!! Sorry for the delay, but because of current events we had to get new internet connections via satellite…it took a while. (They decided we needed to receive something in the mail before they could set our internet up…this apparently didn't extend to cable TV…weird how that works, isn't it?)
Then school decided to show its ugly mug…that's pretty much it for the excuses.
ProngingPotter: Well these just keep getting more and more interesting. Can't believe you read and reviewed the new one-shot so fast. I put it up and ten minutes later you've reviewed it. Awesome! I love how Harry learns to be independent and not just sit there and cry. I hate the Dursleys though. Selling poor little Harry. I was going to use Dumbledore in that one-shot but all of a sudden I go 'Why not use Flitwick?' He really does get overlooked doesn't he? Can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Ie-maru: I'm glad you like them so very much, you really flatter me don't you? Actually, you must have updated right before I went to check my e-mail, because there you were, and then I went to check it out. Ya, Harry is pretty independent isn't he? I don't like the Dursley's much either, and if I tried to write them all nice like, I'd prob'ly screw it up royally. Wait no more, here's the next chapter. Btw, if I started posting the other story (the full one) that I was working on, would you Beta via review? I could always use a few helpful pointers and corrections. Thanks for being such a loyal reviewer.
Maria Aizawa: SO GOOD! I think this is one of the best ones in this series. I know you said you aren't sure about the end, but could it POSSIBLY be that the spell Harry did enables him to do wandless magic? What happened to the virus-did it make him more powerful? I love stories that make me think!
Ie-maru: You really liked it that much? Would you like me to expand on it a little maybe? And ya, Harry can use wandless magic, but only to an extent (think of magic as a muscle, he's gotta work at it to get better). I'm glad you think my series makes you think, and hopefully you'll continue to be such a loyal reviewer. Mayhap you would also consider the question I asked Supaiku-keiteki? Answer in a review please.
Lildevil425: huh, these little one-shots are quite interesting. ever thought of doing a sociopathic harry potter one? that would be even more interesting to see how everyone else ould react to that. hope you update soon!
Ie-maru: Well, here's a new face. Thank you so much for adding me to your Favorite Stories list, it really means a lot to me (and may bring in even more readers!) I hadn't really thought of a sociopathic!Harry, well…at least haven't thought of his character with the actual mental disease, but I have thought of a anti-social!Harry.
Thanks again to my loyal reviewers, and my new one (double thanks for adding me to Favorite Stories). I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
…..
It's Always the Silent Ones
…..
"Have you ever noticed how it's always the silent, anti-social ones who get the farthest in their evil/misunderstood plot? It's because no one ever pays attention to them, and because they just seem to fade away into the background so easily. Society has two options:
1- Prevent this by including the anti-social ones in activities they might enjoy, be friends with them to prevent the problem from ever starting.
2- Just deal with the fact that you either have a new dictator, or the world is going to end." –Ie-maru (I'm a recluse myself, -hisses pathetically-, so be glad I have friends however limited their number may be.)
…..
Everyone seemed to be excitably whispering about the boy-who-lived, but he had no idea what they were talking about.
"He's on this very train, I heard! He's going to be in our year too, isn't this so exciting?"
He swiveled his head to the compartment doors, watching as two gossiping first-years past the door. Afterwards he went back to petting his owl, who was content on his shoulders; he really grew attached to his new owl, and she seemed to like him a lot as well. They went so well together, or, at least, that's what he thought.
He was dressed in the bland black 'robes' they were required to wear, and his wizard's hat was tipped so as to hide his face. His old sneakers scuffed the ground nervously as he read the book sitting in his lap. 'Potions for the Beginner' read the leather cover. It was a little different to what he was used to, but it was similar enough to comfort him. At least he wasn't totally lost, like some other first-years.
"Yeah," replied the other girl, "Do you think we'll see him? I heard he was hanging out somewhere around here."
"Amanda said he was hanging out with that red head boy, Weasley I think she said."
He tilted his hat shyly to hide more of his face with the shadows it provided. The girls were just passing his door.
"Yeah, he shouldn't be too much further. Oooh, I can't wait to see him! Neville's just so cute! Don't you think?"
The girls giggled, and were soon gone from sight.
Hedwig cooed on his shoulder, and he raised a loving hand to stroke her feathers as he continued to read.
Not too much longer he heard a rapping at his door, and he immediately tensed and sat ram-rod strait.
"Have you seen a toad? Neville lost him, and I offered to help look for him," announced another first-year, he could tell because they didn't have house badges yet, with bushy hair and a slightly bucktoothed smile.
"I'm sorry," he offered shyly, hardly meeting her eyes from under the rim of his hat.
"I haven't seen one. You might want to check near the bathrooms, toads like damp places and that might be the only place with water on this entire train."
"Thanks, I'm Hermione by the way," then her eyes caught the book in his lap and brightened immensely.
"Is that this year's potions text? I've already read all the course books, and even practiced a few of the minor charms. Here, let me," she said quickly.
She promptly sat herself in front of him and he started to fidget when she pointed her wand between his eyes. Hedwig squawked indignantly, but seemed un-bothered by what the girl was doing, appearing to know that Hermione was no danger.
A muttered spell later and he was taking his glasses off in awe, examining the repaired piece of metal and glass. Finally he looked up, but he could hardly think of anything to say.
"Um…thanks. I'm Harry, Harry Potter…" he trailed off uncertainly.
He was comforted when Hermione smiled brightly back at him, but he still scuffed his feat with a growing tension coiling in his gut.
"What house do you think you…" she began before being interrupted by an annoyed voice.
"I thought you were going to help look for Trevor," accused a pudgy looking red-faced boy.
Hermione gasped, "I'm sorry, it completely skipped my mind!"
The boy scoffed and turned abruptly on his heel, calling a "Well, hurry up then!" over his shoulder.
Hermione looked at him with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sure he's just worried about his toad. We can finish this up later, ok?"
Harry nodded shyly, but glared at the boy's back when they weren't facing him. Hedwig seemed off put as well.
"That's alright. I'll see you later then."
He was left with his owl and book again, and he dully wondered when Hermione might return as he continued to read. Some time afterward the door opened again, but when he looked up it was a thin black haired boy whom sat himself down and quietly stared out the window.
He smiled nervously to the boy, but quickly averted his eyes to his book when it appeared the boy didn't notice.
It was a while after that when Hermione returned looking a little flustered. She didn't answer his curious gaze, and just replied that she was OK when he asked her about it. However, it was soon forgotten when the interrupted conversation from before gained the chance to once more be carried out.
"I think I'll be in Ravenclaw," replied Harry, "or Hufflepuff."
The boy looked at him curiously as Hermione answered back with "It'll probably be Ravenclaw for me too, but I've also heard that Gryffindor was pretty good; the current Headmaster was a Gryffindor."
Hermione looked curiously at the boy who sat across them.
"I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Harry Potter. What house do you think you'll be in…" she trailed, hoping to garner his name.
"Theodore Nott, future Slytherin," He answered neutrally before looking out the window again.
Harry shuffled nervously and Hedwig nipped his ear affectionately to ease him; he felt better when Hermione grabbed a book and the compartment was filled with a more comfortable silence.
…..
Harry smiled happily as Hermione made her way over to the Gryffindor table. Soon his name was called and he was sorted into Ravenclaw quickly. He gave a little wave to his Gryffindor friend as he sat down, a shy little smile gracing his face and his hat nearly hiding his emerald eyes from view.
Theodore was placed into Slytherin as he predicted, and was surprised to see Harry smiling at him too, from across the hall.
…..
Harry frowned angrily as he watched the scene playing out before him.
"She's such a nag! No wonder she doesn't have any friends!" Neville and Ron started laughing.
Hermione rushed past the two, crying, and Harry nearly saw red. He had to remind himself that more people would be on Neville's side, being the boy-who-lived, and that Hermione needed comforting. He rushed off after her, but he'd stalled too long and couldn't find her.
Finally he shyly walked up to twins walking toward him down the hall.
"Excuse me," he hesitantly called, getting their attention.
"Do you know where Hermione went? She stormed down here a bit earlier, crying and upset. Did you happen to see which way she went?"
"To the girl's bathroom," one answered, getting a thankful smile in return.
"Thanks," he mumbled as he jogged towards the girl's loo.
When he arrived he heard crying inside.
"Is there anyone else in there, Hermione?"
"N-no, there isn't. Why?" she sobbed.
Harry didn't answer, but pushed through the door to stand in front of Hermione's stall.
"Don't listen to them Hermione, they're just idiots," he called, nervously glancing around the bathroom, just waiting for someone to spring out and condemn him for entering the girl's bathroom.
Hermione stumbled out of the stall and wrapped her arms around him in a desperate hug.
"They're jerks, Hermione, and what they said isn't true. You were just trying to help them, and they had no right to say that," he cooed, gaining more confidence as she relaxed.
"But it's not lies! I don't have any friends and I'm just a know-it-all," she whimpered.
Harry tilted his hat up a little, and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"You're much more than a know-it-all, you're Hermione, and I'd like to think that I was your friend."
Hermione gave a jerky smile up at him, and her sobs slowly died down.
"All better?"
"Yeah, I think."
It was then that a troll stumbled in on them.
…..
He honestly didn't know what happened. One minute the troll had separated him and Hermione, and then the hideous thing had trapped her in a corner under the sinks, smashing them and getting closer to her with every swing. The next minute he was boiling over with rage. How dare that vile thing try to hurt his friend? Fear gripped his heart as he thought of loosing one of his only friends.
Then he was glowing green, literally. Threads of green magic were unwinding from the green aura that was seeping out of him, and one of the larger threads struck at the troll like a snake. The troll had stilled for a moment, before falling stiffly to the ground, dead.
Hermione and himself had stared at the troll with incomprehension, shock, and fear. When the troll didn't get back up Harry made his way over to Hermione, and the teachers arrived to rush them off to the hospital wing for check-ups.
…..
Harry glared angrily at Neville and Ron whenever they passed eachother, and Hermione had refused to help them at all ever since the incident.
'I almost wish that green light will come back, just for a moment,' Harry thought darkly as he saw Neville boasting to the crowd that seemed to follow him all the time.
…..
They met Theodore again a few weeks later at the Library, which had become their second home. Conversation had been short and a little stiff, but at least the attitudes weren't hostile, like most Gryffindor/Slytherin confrontations turned out.
After a few weeks more they had gotten pretty comfortable with the silent Slytherin's presence, and a few days after that they'd become quite close. No one really noticed though, due to the fact that Neville was always the center of attention, but that was OK; they preferred their privacy anyway.
…..
It was the end of the year feast, and Hermione was sitting with Harry at the Ravenclaw table as they talked about mailing eachother over the summer. There was still gossip about Neville's confrontation with the Dark Lord, and how he saved the Sorcerer's Stone from falling into You-Know-Who's hands. They both, however, thought that a lot of details had been exaggerated.
Dumbledore had called for attention, and then elegantly handed the Gryffindor house one hundred and eighty points, pretty much giving them the House Cup. Harry and Theodore's eyes met and simultaneously rolled with annoyance.
"I'd like to shoot that old coot," Harry muttered, getting a jab from Hermione in return.
"Ow!"
…..
Ever since the fake Moody had taught that class about the Unforgivables, Harry had been having suspicions about what had happened to that troll in first-year with Hermione. The color and effect were the same. He was a natural dealer of death.
'So what? I'm still Harry,' he tried to assure himself.
'It could be a good thing in the long-run; I'll just have to be careful about how I break this to Hermione, not that she probably doesn't already have her own suspicions.'
At least Theodore wouldn't overreact…maybe.
…..
She hadn't taken it too well. Neither did Theodore for that matter. He hadn't seen head or tail of them for days, and it was pretty obvious by now that they were desperately trying to avoid him.
The next day Hermione sent him a letter, breaking off their three-year relationship after saying that she never wanted to see him again. He still hadn't gotten word from Theodore, and he wouldn't reply to any of his letters.
Harry couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone but Hedwig, the only friend he had now. He felt so lost.
Hedwig affectionately nipped his ear.
…..
The aurors found him in the owlry, as they expected.
"Harry James Potter, you are to be put into quarantine at Azkaban; please surrender yourself peaceably or we'll have to bring you in by force."
He looked blankly at them.
'I never should have said anything…' was all he could think as his dull eyes peeked out from under the brim of his hat.
An auror impatiently pushed forward, but Hedwig irritably dove at him, talons ripping into his arms. Harry surged toward them, trying to stop what he knew would happen as soon as the aurors held their wands at the ready. His efforts were in vain. An auror had him against the ground, knee digging in his back. He didn't really notice as he was too busy looking unbelieving at the bloody remains of his loyal owl.
His last friend…gone.
Emotions built up inside him. Insane anger, despair, disbelief, horror, and a desperation he'd never felt before were all present.
Alone, that's what he was now, wasn't it? It felt a lot more horrible than he remembered feeling at the Dursley's.
He felt a pressure build behind his eyes, and then the tears spilled over from his eyes. The only problem the aurors saw with this was his tears were a sickly glowing green.
Harry screamed, his eyes shut tightly closed, and then felt a power explode inside of him before he blacked out.
…..
A young man was sitting at a small dinning table in Diagon Alley, hardly noticing anything about him.
"Such a terrible thing," he heard a man near him mutter with revulsion.
When the man got up to leave he discreetly followed him from the alley. It wasn't long until they were alone in the streets of London, but the other hardly noticed, too preoccupied with the news he must have read earlier.
Suddenly a green thread of energy flew from the younger man, striking the one he'd been following. The man fell down unmoving, and Harry picked up the newspaper.
Hogwarts Massacre
Harry smiled, "That's not so terrible."
He dropped the newspaper to the ground and continued on.
Things were better now. He wasn't along anymore. It'd always been there for him, but he hadn't realized. It wouldn't leave him either, after all…
…Death couldn't die.
He'd never be alone again. It felt wonderful to know that.
…..
A/N: Not totally sure about this one. Originally I hadn't meant for Hermione and Theodore to betray him, but that's how it slipped out when I started typing. Please review, whether it's telling me I could do better or that this was grand, just please review.
Sorry it took so long to update. Tell me what you think.
I hope everyone has a good weekend. I will, if I my throat would just get better already.