Harry Potter and the Fifth House
Chapter 36: Arguments
The living room was a flurry of trunks and last minute packing as Charity called out to Harry, "You've got everything right? Your money and all of your school things?"
"Yes," Harry answered, watching as Snape hustled Charity out of the kitchen.
"And you're sure you're going to be okay by yourself?" Charity questioned, batting her hands at Snape as he pushed her.
"He's only going to be alone for a night," Snape insisted. "Charity we're going to be the last ones there and so help me if we're late-"
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed, suddenly remembering something.
Snape let out a groan as Charity moved out of the path way of the door towards Harry, "What is it darling?"
He dug around his pocket for a minute before pulling out a piece of paper, "Will you sign my permission slip to go to Hogsmeade before you leave?"
Charity eyed the slip in his hand before turning to Snape, "Severus..."
Snape gave her a look before sighing. Walking over to them, placing a hand on the small of Charity's back, he said, "Harry, there's some things going on and we don't want you going to Hogsmeade considering them. Maybe next year though, okay?"
"What that's not-" He fumbled for words before finally spitting out, "That's not fair! Everyone else gets to go! I thought I would be able to do all the cool wizard stuff the others get to do now!"
"Oh Harry, you will," Charity insisted, reaching out for him. "But right now is just not a good time for you to be doing that."
"Why not?" he questioned, jerking away before her hand could touch him.
A hurt look settled into her eyes as Snape growled, "Do not speak to your mother like-"
"She's not my mom! In case you didn't hear, mine is dead!" Harry screamed.
There was a beat of painful silence before Harry turned and ran up the stairs towards his bedroom.
"Harry-!" Charity called out, making a move to follow him.
She was stopped by Snape's hand on her arm and a shake of his head. "I don't know what's going on his head, but you can't help him right now, Charity. He needs to sort that out himself."
She squeezed her eyes shut, "I know, but I wish we could have told him that we were only worried about him."
"And reveal that his godfather killed his parents? He's only thirteen, he can't deal with that kind of knowledge."
(-)
The next night found Harry sitting on the curb, his trunk under him, and his knees drawn up to his chest - a huge sense of guilt in his gut and no one to apologize too.
He wanted to do something – to take back all the mean words he'd said because they weren't true at all -but there was no one to apologize to with Snape and Charity already at Hogwarts.
He sighed, glancing up the street as if the bus popping up would take away the feelings in his chest.
When he glanced back, Harry found himself staring into glowing red eyes. A scream escaped his throat and he tumbled back, scrambling on his hands and feet.
The dog kept advancing though, not at all affected by his rapid movements.
Just as it seemed like he was done for, there was a whirling sound followed by a whimper and then words that sounded like heaven to Harry even though he couldn't see who was speaking.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Stunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve-" the voice stopped and Harry peeked his eyes open to see a man and a bus, absolutely no trace of a dog. "What were you doin' down there?"
(-)
When Draco swung open the door to the compartment, he found the rest of the house packed together and a man sleeping against the window.
Ron and Hermione were sat on the seat next to the man, Luna sitting between Hermione's knees as the older girl ran her hands through the blondes hair. On the other side, Blaise sat with his feet out along the seat and Neville in between his legs, his back resting on Blaise's chest, and Harry at the end of his feet with a frown.
"Why are we sitting back here herded together like sheep?" he questioned as he walked in, Ron helping him with his stuff.
"This was the only place that wasn't already full. We wanted to all sit together," Luna stated. She waved a bit, "Hello Draco."
"Hey Luna," he answered, mussing her hair as he passed to squeeze in between Harry and the window.
Before he made it very far, Blaise's hand darted out and grabbed his. They stared at each other for a while before Blaise said, "You okay?"
Draco swallowed hard before nodding, "Yeah. You?"
Blaise regarded him with half closed eyes before letting his hand drop and come back to Neville, his arms wrapped around the others front, "Yeah."
As he squeezed himself next to Harry, the blonde noticed something off about the way he had the tip of his finger caught between his teeth and his shoulders tense with emotion.
"Hey," he nudged Harry lightly so as not to bump him into the other two. "Is something going on?"
Harry was silent for a minute before he nodded and straightened up, "I think I need to tell you guys something."
Hermione shifted, worry filling her eyes, "What is it, Harry?"
"The night I left the house something happened..."
They all leaned in unconsciously to listen to his tale.
And if the professor twitched just a little bit as well, no one took notice.
E/n: Two chapters in one day! oh yeah~
It'd be nice if you still left a review for each chapter - so i knew your thoughts on them individually - but no pressure.
Next Time: I introduce the tradition known as "mentoring"