Expect the Unseen – Chapter 8 (Looking)
Harry knew from the start that locating Akylas was going to be difficult. He had issues trying to find him in the past. But now it he knew it was literally impossible. He knew that he was probably avoiding and hiding from him. He didn't need to read minds to know that. Though he supposed he probably would have done the same if their roles had been reversed. But he doubted that Akylas had an invisibility cloak.
Then there was the fact that he wished that Blaise had talked to him about this instead of making a plan himself. He didn't really care if Blaise thought he knew Akylas better than he did. He knew that something like this was the last thing that needed to happen. Though it would have been nice to know that Akylas might have a crush on him. Then maybe he would have spent more time trying to convince Akylas or maybe just not go at all to Slughorn's party. He didn't care if Slughorn or Hermione would have been furious with him for skipping it. Maybe if he had, he wouldn't have to be looking for Akylas.
He tried any place he could think of too. Library, even in the far corners in the back. The Courtyard, despite that it might be a bit chilly outside. Any corridors that he could think of, but any place he looked had turned up to be nothing.
"He could be using a Disillusionment Charm," Hermione brought up one day.
Harry looked up at her, he had been searching for Akylas through the Yule holiday and still no luck. But around this time, he had failed in his searching again, so he had gone back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"You said that he's likes to read and study. It is very possible that he learned how to perform the charm."
Harry sighed and slumped into his seat. This was just great; he would never find Akylas if that was true.
"Have you thought about asking Blaise?" Hermione asked.
Harry frowned and didn't bother for a response. He was still a bit irritated with Blaise for what happened.
"You can't avoid him forever and he was only trying to help you," Hermione pointed out. "But maybe it would be worth talking to him if he does know Akylas so well."
"By making things worse…" Harry muttered.
"Nobody could have possibly known that he would react badly."
Harry shook his head, "I did though… If Blaise was right about any of this. It doesn't matter what happened, Akylas would have a bad reaction to it. Just like I would if it happened to me…"
"I'm not going to pry and ask what he may have told you, because that isn't my business. But the only way to resolve this is to talk to Akylas."
"How am I going to do that when I can't even find him?" Harry asked.
"Then ask Blaise or maybe you know something about him that you don't realize… You still have the holidays to search but its not a bad thing to ask for help," Hermione said.
Harry bit his lip; he knew that he should ask Blaise. He had always prized the Slytherin's friendship. And he didn't want to be furious with him just for wanting to help him. But there was a part of him that did blame Blaise. He could still recall the look of hurt that flashed across Akylas' face. There had been rage too. But he wasn't sure if that was directed at him or not. He wasn't sure if he could handle Akylas being furious with him for something he didn't ask for.
And he didn't really blame Dean, not really. Maybe he should have, but he couldn't muster up any anger. The plan hadn't been his idea, so maybe that may be the reason Harry wasn't as angry as he should have been. Though he would have preferred that his best mate didn't kiss him to begin with. That had just been very awkward to think about. Hence on why Akylas didn't want to be found, especially by him. So, maybe he should have been mad at him…
Despite that part… one thing that had been nagging Harry was… why was Akylas on the sixth floor? Akylas was a Slytherin, so he would be more likely to be either in the dungeons or the library. It didn't make any sense on why he would be on the sixth floor. So, why was he on the sixth floor to begin with? And unfortunately, Harry wasn't able to ask Akylas that since he still couldn't find him.
He figured if he could just talk to Akylas, that somehow the Slytherin may listen to what he had to say. But he didn't know if he would or not, for not certain anyways. There were days that even to Harry, that Akylas was very hard to read. He didn't know if that was because he was a Slytherin or what. But whatever progress he had made was ruined. Even if Harry managed to talk to him again, would he trust him?
Harry didn't believe that it had been his fault, but you never knew with Slytherins. What if Akylas thought that he intentionally did kiss Dean?
The thought made Harry shudder. He had no romantic interest in Dean, so it was a bit cringy to think about. Even that thought aside, he didn't want Akylas to have the impression that he may like Dean more than friends. That definitely wasn't true.
But that still left the problem at hand. He still couldn't find Akylas to explain all of this. And he really didn't want to approach Blaise and ask for his help. He knew that Hermione had been right, and he just needed to get pass this. He shouldn't be angry at Blaise for just wanting to help him out. So, he needed to probably bite back his tongue and just swallow his pride.
Perhaps there was a part of him that wanted to be the one to find Akylas without any help. But he didn't think that would ever happen. If he wasn't able to find Akylas before, what made him think that it was possible to find him now? Maybe that was just him being hopeful that he could be lucky. But as the days and weeks went by, the less hope there was. As each day passed, the closer it got for when they would be back to term. And Harry knew that he would have less of a chance to find Akylas if term resumed before he got the chance to talk to Akylas. Maybe even apologize, even though he knew none of it was his fault really.
Harry couldn't postpone talking to Blaise any longer. He just wished that finding Akylas was just as easy as finding Blaise. Though that could be because he knew where Blaise liked to frequent. Especially on the holidays. Just like he knew that if he wanted to, he could find Theo in the library.
And there had been times that Blaise preferred not to be at Hogwarts during Yule. But seeing that he did go to Slughorn's party during the holiday. He definitely would still be at the castle unless he gained special permission to Floo. Thankfully that wasn't the case as Blaise was buried in a book.
Harry was honestly surprised it wasn't another potion, he knew that brewing was a favorite pastime of his. Harry knew he was good a Potions, but that didn't mean he wanted to spend all his free time in a Potions lab.
"Finally stopped being mad at me?" Blaise commented, his arms were crossed.
Harry instantly felt guilty, "wouldn't you be if you were in my position?"
Blaise sighed, "I know now that it probably was a bad call. But it still can be turned around, but your Gryffindor tendencies started to show."
Harry scowled, "and how am I supposed to do that? I've searched everywhere I can think of for Akylas. He's nowhere to be found or it is that I'm just that horrible of a searcher."
"Because the places you're looking at, are the rights ones, just at the wrong moments," Blaise replied.
Harry's shoulders slumped.
"Harry, I really doubt that Akylas is actually mad at you. Its more of Dean that his anger is aimed at. Though it was bad planning on my part that he didn't react the way I had hoped…"
"What were you expecting to happen?" Harry grumbled; his anger was starting to show.
"I had assumed that Akylas would have cursed Dean and wound up kissing you instead. But he ran, I hadn't realized that his feelings were that deep," Blaise said softly.
"You really think so?" Harry asked, suddenly feeling vulnerable.
"You may not be able to notice it, but I have. And like you, Akylas doesn't know how to display his emotions for someone he cares about."
"Didn't think Akylas cared, didn't seem to when I asked him…" Harry mumbled. Trying not to feel offended by the emotions comment.
"You never did say on exactly what happened that day," Blaise brought up.
"Akylas noticed something was bothering me while brewing potions. He needed help in order to pass his Potions for his OWLs. I agreed to help him, since he heard from Slughorn about the Draught of Death that we brewed. I had been fighting on asking him and when I did, he turned me down. But from his reaction later after Slughorn's Party, I'm starting to wonder if maybe I gave him the wrong impression. It had been a while since he's gotten defensive with me, so I'm not sure exactly what he was thinking at the time. But he didn't seem too concerned after I left," Harry explained.
Blaise looked thoughtful at that. He had an idea on why that was but figured it may be best of Harry figured it out on his own. Or even better, Akylas admitted to Harry on what he was thinking that night.
"Hermione even mentioned that he may be using a Disillusionment Charm. I don't even know if that is true or not. But if I'm just having bad timing when looking, not sure what to think…"
"I wouldn't be surprised if Akylas knew how to cast a Disillusionment Charm over himself. But that isn't your issue. Your problem is knowing when to look for him and I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to curse you," Blaise warned.
"Great… thanks for the warning…" Harry groaned. That was just great, so on top of having to explain himself, he might get cursed for it as well. Then there was the possibility that Akylas wouldn't even talk to him. It would be just like their first meeting and the reminder of that hurt. He had such an intense urge to find Akylas and apologize. Maybe he didn't necessarily have to apologize for what Dean did. But maybe he could apologize for hurting him.
Why did he have to like a complicated Slytherin? It was like everything about him just seemed to draw him in. And he wanted to prove to Akylas that he wasn't like the other people in his life that didn't care about him. But he didn't know if Akylas actually knew that or not. He honestly doubted he did, otherwise they wouldn't be at where they were right now.
But the same doubts just kept creeping in and in. Not being about to find Akylas. Blaise being wrong and it was all for naught. Akylas never looking or talking to him again. And did that last thought hurt, far worse than Harry thought it would. He hadn't realized on how much he had enjoyed being around Akylas. It was very similar to the feeling when he had gotten rejected, would he ever stop thinking of that day?
That was when he listened carefully to what Blaise was saying. This was his way of finding Akylas, there was no way he wasn't going to pay attention. He just hoped that Blaise was right about this. Though he was surprised that Blaise even mentioned some places that Harry would have never thought to look. Hadn't bothered either, all because he assumed that Akylas would never go there. It made him wish that he actually knew Akylas better, but he had never asked what places he liked to go to. It was a mistake that he would deeply regret.
But now, he was determined to fix this. Any way that he was able to. Harry just hoped that it would be enough. But for now, he had a Slytherin to find.