I hope everyone is enjoying story.
The next morning, Harry found it very hard to get out bed. He kept playing the last night over and over in his head. He felt the tears falling again. He knew that it was too good to be true. He was right Draco felt something for him but was only physical which is caused by the bond. It was not real; the same as his attractions and feelings were not real.
He was honest in what he told them yesterday. He wants to be loved for just him and nothing else. He wants a family. He wants to belong. He realized it was never going to happen. He may have friendships but nothing more, because he would always be a freak and outsider in both worlds. It was something that he would have to accept and release everything.
"You need to wake up. It is time for breakfast." He heard Draco holler. He remained quiet. He hoped that if they thought he was still sleeping that they would leave. "You need to eat, Harry."
This time it was just outside his door. "Stop, he has a locking charm on the door." He heard Blaise. "A lot has happened to him; he may still be asleep or need more time to process everything. We can check on him later."
Harry remained in his bed for an additional ten minutes before leaving and plopping on the couch. He proceeded to curl up and let more tears fall. He was starting to doubt his reasons for attending class. He was already a month behind. He already doubted his ability to survive the war.
"What do you think that you are doing, Potter? Do you think everyone went through great lengths to heal you just for you to starve yourself? You have classes to attend." Professor Snape stormed into the room.
"What was the damn point? You all needed to heal me because I am the only one to kill Voldemort. What is the point of attending class if I am just going to die anyway? The education would serve me no purpose, since I am going to die anyway!"
"You need to get over yourself. This self-pity serves no purpose."
"What you cannot stand the real me. This is the me that no one sees. You were not even supposed to see it. If you do not like to see it; then leave. You were the one to barge into here. Now if you do not mind, I would like you leave. I have a lot of work to get caught up on."
"I except to see you in class. If you are not in class; then you can expect detention with me for a month. I am serious Mr. Potter."
"I will think about it." Harry walked toward his room leaving Professor Snape glaring at him.
Harry stood in his room. He knew that the professor was right. He got dressed in his robes; however, he sat the desk and picked up his missed work. He started with DADA. Hermione's notes were on point and very easy to follow. He completed several assignments before he moved onto Charms. He cast a Tempus charm. He grabbed his books and went to his charm class.
He knew that the charm class was with Hufflepuff. He knew that he would not see either Draco or Blaise. However, he had to deal with his house mates. He watched as they all came into the room. He noticed that Ron took a seat away from him. Hermione sat in between them.
Everyone seemed to be happy to see Harry. Some glared at him as well. He shifted in his seat and tried to put everything out of his mind. He focused Professor Flitwick. He could the glares even more by the end of the class. He remained in his seat when class ended. He turned around the moment the door slammed shut.
"What Seamus and Dean?" Harry spoke without turning around holding tight on his wand.
"What do you think you are doing betraying everyone they have stood by you?"
"I have betrayed no one." Harry snapped and faced them.
"You bonded yourself to Slytherins that have family members that are known Death Eaters."
"I am sure you do not have the correct information. I did not bond with anyone. The Goblet of Fire bonded them to me. I had no choice. Ron has been quick to turn his back on me. You and several others last you turned against me. So, you have no right to question me. Now if you do not mind. I am already late for class." Harry grabbed his bag while keep his wand in his hand.
Harry pushed past the two boys. He warned them to leave him alone. He headed down the hallway. He felt something hit his back. He wanted to fall forward. However, he erected a silent shield. He waivered a little as he turned around and sent two disarming charms. He grabbed the wands. He rushed down the hall and tossed the wands.
He pulled out his map and went down the secret passage that is closest to the Shrieking Shack. He lowered himself onto the mattress. His back burns and stings like one of Uncle Vernon's whippings. He lay on his stomach and cried himself back to sleep.
Later that afternoon, Professor marched up to Hermione and Ron in Defense class. "Where is Potter?"
"How are we supposed to know where the traitor is? Why don't you ask his new best friends?" Ron spat.
"Oh get off it, Ron!" Hermione looked at Snape. "I am sorry Professor. I have not seen Harry since Charms class this morning."
"Thank you, Miss. Granger." Snape turned around in time to see the door close behind Draco and Blaise. He knew that if they were smart enough that they would be able to find Potter.
Draco and Blaise got to the first floor. Draco started to head towards the entrance, and Blaise was turning to Harry's room. "I do not think that he is in his room." Draco spoke.
"Are you sure?" Blaise asked.
"If you did not want to be found, would you return to your room?"
"I guess not, but where would he go?"
"I can think of a few places." They headed out the door. They first went to Hagrid's. He was not there. They walked to the lake.
They walked back towards the castle. As they passed the Whomping Willow, they stopped. "Do you feel that?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah, you go get Professor Snape. I will look around." Draco spoke.
Blaise took off back to the castle. He opened the door. Snape saw him. He gave the class a reading assignment and walked into the hallway. "We felt his magic near the Whomping Willow, but saw no sign of him."
"He is in the Shrieking Shack. Let's go." They rushed back to the Whomping Willow. Snape quickly cast the Immobulus charm. He walked to the base of the tree and a secret door opened. The quickly follow the path into the Shrieking Shack. He barged through the door. They saw Potter on the mattress.
Draco rushed over to him. He was crying. "Harry wake up!" He gently tried to shake him.
Harry hollered in pain. "What the hell?" He tried to push himself upwards again. Pain shot through him again and lay back down. "Why are you here?"
"You were supposed to be in class." Snape growled.
"I went to class and did no good. Just leave me alone. I am going back to sleep." Harry grumbled.
"What happened?" Draco asked taking his head.
Harry yanked it away. "Nothing of importance. Had words with some house mates?"
"Where is the pain?"
"My back. It burns and throbs."
"May we look?" Draco asked.
"If you must, I will be alright in a couple more hours. It is something I am used feeling." Harry turned his head and faced the wall.
Draco looked too other two people in room. Snape nodded his head for him to proceed. He slowly began to lift up Harry's shirt. They heard Harry hiss as the shirt peeled away from his back. "Blimey!"
"Who did this Potter?" Snape demanded.
"Not sure, either Seamus or Dean. They stopped me at the end of Charms. We had words. I brushed passed them. I felt it hit my back. I turned disarmed them and tossed their wands at the end of the hallway."
"I will be fine. In a few hours, they will begin to scab over and will be able to move about. I have had worse and still was able to do work. Just leave me be. I will see in the morning."
"We certainly will not be leaving you here! We are taking you back to the infirmary." Blaise spoke.
"Whatever." Harry nonchalantly spoke to the wall.
Draco with the help of Blaise got Harry to his feet. With each person on the other side of the boy, they walked back out of the shack. They entered the castle. Several people walked up to them. Snape growled causing everyone to back away from them.
Madame Pomfrey shrieked when they saw them bring Potter back into the ward. They laid him on his usual bed on his stomach. "You are having a bad year, Harry." Snape explained that he was hit with the whipping spell and missed two meals. Madame Pomfrey lifted up his shirt. She noticed a lot of his old wounds reopened. She ripped the back of the shirt.
She rushed to her cabinet. She grabbed several bottles. Snape informed her that she was going to speak to Professor McGonagall. She poured the potion down his throat to ease the pain. She waited several minutes. She poured an oil over the wounds. She moved her wand over his back. She looked to the two boys. "The wounds will completely heal in a couple of hours. In thirty minutes, I want you to give him the nutrition potion. I will be back to check on him."
Harry kept his eyes closed willing for sleep to take him. "Why did you not come find us?" Blaise asked.
"If you haven't noticed, I prefer to suffer in silence. I prefer the shadows. I just wanted to be away before I ran into some else. I have felt the pain repeatedly before. I went where I knew I would be left alone. How did you find me anyway?"
"We were out looking for you, when you did not show up for Defense class. We felt your magic as we neared the Whomping Willow. Blaise brought Snape back. I never knew the willow hid a passage to the shack."
"Hermione, Ron and I discovered it in our third year when we followed Remus. It was where Sirius had been hiding." Harry said in sadness. "So much loss. So much hate. What is even the point? I will never belong. I will never please anyone. I am just a disappointment. I can't even play Quidditch." Harry spoke to no one in particular.
Blaise shared a look with Draco. Draco took Harry's hand. Harry tried to move it away. Draco held on tighter. He began to rub circles into it. "In war, there will always be death. You do not have to please anyone, just yourself. Yes, you do have an image; however, you can take control of it. You can make them see what you want them to see; not what they want to see. With everything you have been through, you cannot be a disappointment. I know of no one that could have survived everything that you have and still be alive; yet, alone still be able to love and forgive."
"I have never been in love. I thought I was but was mistaken. It wasn't real." He mumbled lowly.
Draco barely heard him. His breath caught in his chest. "You loved Sirius. You love Hermione, Ron, Professor Remus, Professor Dumbledore, Neville, Luna, all the Weasleys. You have been able to forgive Ron, and your house when they turned their backs on you in the fourth year and when they did not believe you last year."
"What do I get? I get the same hexes I taught them last year against me."
"Why would you teach someone that or anyone at all?" Blaise asked.
"It was Hermione's idea to start a secret group when Umbridge said we were not going to be doing spells and only learning theory. I was elected their instructor, because it seems that it was a big deal to be able to cast a full patronus at 13 that repelled multiple dementors. Then your buddy has to go and ruin and almost get me hit with the Cruciatus by Umbridge for my efforts."
Draco snorted. "I do not like to be left out of secret groups."
"Take it up with Hermione. I had no control over who was invited to participate. Besides it was only 25 between three houses. It was not that big of a deal."
"So you say. Though your group was able to hold off Death Eaters in the Ministry."
Harry snorted this time. "Wasn't good enough to save Sirius or prevent being possessed by the Dark Lord?"
"Were you not able to push him out?"
"Yes, but that is not the point. The point is that it never should have been allowed to happen."
"The Dark Lord is a very powerful wizard. You are the only one to repel any of his attacks and walk away. I think you are not giving yourself enough credit."
Harry did not respond. He did take Blaise's hand and squeezed it. Draco indicated that it was time for him take the potion. Harry grumbled but turned his head and lifted it up to swallow the nasty liquid. He lay his head back down on the pillow. He closed his eyes. "Thank you, for coming to find me."
"That is what friends do."
"Then get me back to my room. I do not want to be here if anyone else shows up." Harry paused. "Never mind. I will go myself. Let Madame Pomfrey know. Dobby!"
"How can I help the great Harry Potter?"
"Take me to my room." Harry let go of both hands as Dobby touched him; then he was gone.