Chapter 14

First off: I didn't even think about Thanksgiving being an American only holiday so I'm sorry I made that mistake. When I do have time I will go back and fix that in the chapter, but right now I'm more concerned with writing more for you guys. Forgive me!

As many of you have realized the characters are starting to differ from canon more and more. I like to see how one new element can affect an entire universe. I'm kind of dedicating this chapter to filling you in on how the characters have changed and what kind of people they are now. Thank you all for sticking with me so far with this story and being such a great audience. I have so much planned for this story and I'm so happy I get to share it all with you!

Disclaimer:

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"Get out of my classroom!" yelled Snape, his already guant skin, and paper white.

Harry rushed out of the cold, damp dungeon and down the hall. His hands were shaking and his head pounding. It seemed that either Occlumency just wasn't his forte or Snape was a bloody awful teacher. Harry was leaning towards the second option. He leaned against the wall and sank down to the floor, bringing his bony knees to his chest. His green eyes shone magenta as the red sky reflected off his irises. Harry watched silently as the sun slowly sank on the horizon, setting the sky on fire. He was oblivious to the figure watching him from around the corner. A boy, pale in every sense of the word, studied Harry's face intently. The boy's features entranced him. The trademark Gryffindor furry that normally shone in his eyes was replaced by a gray sadness that sucked the sparkle from his emeralds.

Although he was a bit bitter about Harry Potter stealing his self proclaimed 'pity window', he was more surprised to see the same betrayal and self-hate that he saw in the mirror each morning reflected in his mortal enemy. Only staying a moment longer, he took one last desperate glance at Potter's perplexing features before darting down the dimming corridor.

Harry was yanked from his trance as he heard footsteps rushing away from him. He quickly stood walked over to the corner the sound came from. All he saw was a glimpse of platinum blonde hair disappearing at the end of the hall. Shrugging it off Harry sighed and made his way back up to the Gryffindor common room. He nodded wearily at the few people still studying on the over-stuffed gold and red sofas before climbing the stairs and collapsing on his bed. It seemed that none of his dorm mates had made it back to their room yet and Harry realished in the silence. The sun barely peaked over the horizon and the sky shone red as blood. The light still pouring through the small window near his bed was ablaze with color. Harry had to admit it matched the red and gold decor nicely. He spread out on his back before closing his eyes and slowly drifting off into one of the most peaceful sleeps he had gotten all month.

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"I'm telling you Nev, there is no way he would do that," said Ron Weasley loudly as he walked up the stairs to his room. Three of his dorm mates followed behind him, although only one seemed in the mood to talk.

"You sure Ron, cause...I dunno maybe I'm loony," said Neville timidly.

"Bloody right you are, there's no way in..." The redhead trailed off suddenly when he walked into his room and saw his best mate sound asleep on his bed.

Neville quietly walked over to his stuff and began to change while Dean and Seamus conversed quietly.

"You know mate I don't think anyone would believe the ministry's stories about Harry if they saw him sleeping" commented Dean, "lad looks like the most innocent child."

Ron smiled at his friend while Seamus looked uncomfortable.

"I still feel terrible about how I treated him earlier this year" he muttered quietly.

Ron put a hand on his shoulder, "don't worry about it mate. Harry's had worse before, it's not like some...ah, misinformation's gonna knock him off his game. He can endure it."

"Yeah but he shouldn't have to" Seamus said quietly before joining the other two boys in getting ready for bed. Ron sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It's not as if Seamus was wrong, but he had a feeling that Harry would never see it that way.

It was only when sleep was creeping around the edges of Ron's mind when he wondered if he or Hermione could have lessened the damage Harry's relatives had done to him. Suddenly Ron sat straight up in his bed as all drowsiness was banished from his thoughts. It was no secret that Hermione knew more about things than he did. She was the first one to wonder if the constant neglect from Harry's relatives had really affected his personality back in their second year.

Ron had laughed when she brought it up to him. Surely no one could hurt the great Harry Potter? If He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named couldn't kill him, Muggles couldn't do anything to harm him. At least that's what he thought until their fourth year. In the past Harry had never had any problems brushing off negative energy. There had been points (especially in their second year) where it had been Harry against the world, and in Ron's mind his best mate hadn't ever been any worse for wear. Although looking back that may have been how he was simply used to being treated.

It was only when Diggory died did he see another side to Harry. At first he dealt with the grief with random outbursts and anger, like he was letting out his emotion in small explosions when it got too much. But after a few days, it seemed that Harry had vacated the premises. He only got out of bed when Ron asked him to. He only ate anything when Hermione would quietly beg him at meals. Hermione called it 'depression' but Ron had no clue what to do. It seemed as if the great Harry Potter had been brought to his knees.

And Ron went crashing down with him.

Now he could admit, he had always idolized Harry. He had grown up with a large family but almost no material possessions. When he first met Harry, his entire world changed. He had everything Ron secretly wanted. Endless riches, and a small family. Now he knew that Harry was his only family. For years he only had himself.

Couldn't he and Hermione have done more?

The three of them were a family. He knew Hermione had always wanted siblings, and Harry had always wanted a family. Ron knew he couldn't live without one. When he thought he was getting away from the stifling pressure of a large family, he only found another one. Smaller, but just as loving.

What kind of family let someone go through what Harry had?

For the next few hours Ron lie in bed, unable to sleep the thoughts that now plagued him. How could Harry even call them his friends? Hermione liked to think of herself as the mum of the group, but they had done a terrible job of taking care of Harry.

"Ron?" His head shot up in the direction of the voice and he saw two emerald orbs reflecting the moonlight.

"Did I wake you up?" Ron asked shakily.

Harry shook his head; "I went to bed really early, I think this is the first time I've slept with out a nightmare for a long time."

"Good" smiled Ron.

"So what are you doing up mate? The insomnia is my thing" Harry joked.

Ron was silent for a few moments before blurting out, "Could we have done more to help you Harry?"

Harry's head cocked to one side, "what do you mean?"

"I mean we never really realized how bloody terrible your Aunt and Uncle were. I...I didn't realize things could ever bother you too much; you were invincible in my eyes. I..."

"Ron" Harry interrupted, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"No, I need to tell you this" Ron said forcefully. "Mate, when we first met you had everything I wanted. You were this rich, famous kid who wasn't a giant dick like a lot of purebloods and I think I got it into my head that nothing could get to you. When we got to second year and it seemed like everyone in the school was against you, I just assumed it didn't bother you because you were Harry Potter, the boy who lived, but that's not it."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"It was because you were just used to it" said Ron.

Harry's eyes widened a bit before he sighed and visibly tried to relax, "even if my family did mess me up a little, I'm okay now. I know last year was rough but...I uh...you and Hermione are my real family, and I uh love you guys and I mean...um yeah" Harry stuttered awkwardly, looking like he wanted to run out of the room.

"Now that you two have worked that out would you kindly shut the hell up?" muttered Neville, covering his head with his pillow. Both Ron and Harry turned bright red before awkwardly turning away from one another and hid under their bed sheets.

Ron felt one hundred times lighter, like the weight of the world had been lifted off of his shoulders.

Harry on the other hand was unable to quiet his mind. How messed up did his friends think he was? Sure there had been bad times, but that was normal wasn't it? He had always assumed most people in the world were just inherently bad.

What else did his friends know about him that he didn't?"

I'm sorry this chapter is so short. I actually started this as a plot chapter but then it just went off into this Ron Harry scene and I kinda just went with it. I'm trying to develop characters to fit the plot so. I should have another update soon because I have a huge event in the story planned in the next few chapters. I'm interested to know what you all think, so guess in the comments what you think it's gonna be. It'll entertain me I guess lol.