Sunday finally came and Harry felt very stressed. He got up at five thirty in the morning to get ready for the tryouts, which would begin an hour after lunch. Light was beginning to creep over the grounds when Harry pulled himself out of bed and got dressed. Ron tossed in his sleep.
"What're you doing, Harry?" He mumbled groggily.
"Tryouts," Harry whispered.
"Mmmphh," Ron said in response and fell back asleep again. Harry grabbed his broom and walked down the spiral staircase and into the common room. It was completely empty. The warm fire looked very inviting but Harry steered himself through the portrait hole and woke up the Fat Lady. She started chewing him out, but Harry told her quickly that she should mind her own business and took off down the hall. He was so deep in thought about the tryouts that he hardly noticed where he was going. He knew Hogwarts like the back of his hand, thanks to the Marauders Map. His shoulder bumped something. Harry looked up and found himself face to face with Snape. Harry was definitely awake now.
"You should watch where you're going Potter. Somebody might attack you," Snape said and avoided his eyes.
"Like who?" Harry said. Snape didn't answer.
"What are you doing out of bed at this hour," He said.
"I'm getting ready for tryouts. I'm team captain." Harry said. A twisted smile appeared on his face.
"Oh, yes, how could I forget? Yes, we will win the cup this year for sure." He said, the twisted smile growing larger on his face.
Harry said nothing. Snape walked on down the hall and so did Harry. When he reached the large front doors he was back to thinking about tryouts. The Quidditch field was back to normal again, the large bushes had been knocked off and it was flat and smooth again. The grass was shimmering in the early morning night. Harry dropped his broom on the ground and started to get to work. He went over to the broom cabinet and pulled out about twenty brooms and lay them down neatly in a stack, just incase somebody needed to use one of them. He then started making lines for each of the positions.
He looked at his work. It looked very organized. Maybe this wasn't going to be as hard as he had imagined it. He saw that somebody was watching him in the stands. Harry couldn't tell who it was and pretended to be looking at his perfect lines to get a closer look. As he was walking to them he trod on some sort of sturdy stick. He was just about to step off of it when it started to lift off the ground Harry looked down in horror and realized he was standing on his broom and he was actually flying. It was very strange indeed. Harry looked hopelessly around him to see if there was something to hold on to. He looked down again, which was a mistake because he lost his balance. He struggled to regain it by sticking his hands out to either side of him. The broom veered left. Harry realized he could steer the broom like this, even though it wasn't his preferred type of flying. Slowly and very carefully he lowered the broom back to the ground and jumped off of it. The broom hovered three inches off the ground at Harry's ankles. He grabbed the broom and leaned it on the chair he had dragged out of the locker. He stared into the stands to try to see what or who was watching him. It appeared to be a large dog. At first Harry thought it was only Fang, but this other dog was much larger than Hagrid's boarhound. It wagged its tail and barked at him. It was strangely familiar. Harry ran over to the stands quickly.
"Siri- Snuffles?" Harry said astounded. Sirius barked again and thumped his tail on the bleacher. "What're you doing here? Wait you cant talk like that…" Harry said realizing his mistake. The dog looked around his surroundings and then in an instant he had transformed into his godfather.
"Dumbledore wants me here. Thinks you need extra- extra protection." He said. Harry gave him a quizzical look and Sirius shrugged. Harry suddenly realized Sirius had on new clean robes, and his hair was much shorter and was slicked back. "Nice change, isn't it?" He said.
"Yeah, but where did you get the money?" Harry asked.
"Lupin." He said shortly. "My robes were in much worse condition than his…"
"So how long are you staying?" Harry asked. Lupin shrugged again.
"Until Dumbledore says I'm not needed anymore." Sirius said.
"Well, where are you going to stay?" Harry asked.
"Your room." He said.
"Where in my room?" No matter how much he cared for Sirius, he did not want to share a bed with him.
"On the floor, relax. Dumbledore gave me a dog bed, and I'm trying not to take it personally." He said and Harry laughed. "What are you doing out here anyways?"
"I have to get ready for tryouts today." Harry said.
"Sounds like fun," Sirius said sarcastically.
"Highlight of my day," Harry said flatly. "What am I supposed to say when somebody asks me why a dog is following me around school?"
"Oh, I never thought about that," He said and chewed his lip and thought hard. "Um, you could say it's the family dog, who won't leave you alone?"
"That escaped from the Dursleys?" Harry said.
"Forgot about them for a moment," He said.
"Yeah, whatever." Harry said. Sirius turned back into a dog suddenly. Harry looked around and saw that somebody was heading on to the field.
"Harry, is that you all the way up there?" Came Ron's voice from the ground. Harry walked down the stairs and met Ron on the field, shortly followed by Sirius.
"The one and only," Harry said. Ron grinned sarcastically.
"What is that dog doing here?" He asked without realizing it was Sirius.
"Take one, big fat guess." Harry said. The dog made a noise as though it were trying to laugh.
"Sirius?" Ron said, amazed. Harry nodded.
"Yeah." Harry said.
"Why are you out here so early? You're turning into a regular Oliver Wood, you know that Harry?"
"I have to set up for tryouts, you know that." Harry said. "But I'm done now. When's breakfast?"
"Now, that's why I came out here." He said. They headed up the field and the stairs and into the great hall for breakfast. Hermione choked and fell out of her seat when she saw Sirius.
"Snuffles?" She said breathlessly as she regained her position on the chair. Harry nodded shortly and began to eat, and every once and a while handing things down to Sirius. Harry was amazed at how well Sirius was at being a dog. He let people pet him and scratch behind his ears and even licked the back of Neville's hand. (Even though his expression looked disgusted.) The table instantly fell in love with him and soon everybody was handing him food under the table. Hermione and Harry exchanged surprised glances, but Ron seemed to be enjoying the show.
"Ooh, Harry, what's your dog's name?" Lavender squealed as she pet Sirius.
"What? Oh-er Snuffles." He said awkwardly.
"What a cute name!" A first year girl said. All of the girls nodded even Hermione to Harry's surprise. Harry ate breakfast quickly and left and beckoned Sirius to come. The girls weren't to keen on letting him leave, but in the end he got away from them.
"What a good dog," One girl said.
"Yeah, very obedient." Said Amelia. She looked at Harry as if she was on to them. "Harry, why is this dog here?" Harry ignored her question.
"Quidditch tryouts at one o'clock everybody." He called down the table and left with Hermione, Ron and Sirius following him. They walked outside and went in the Gryffindor locker rooms. Sirius transformed.
"Hello Hermione, Ron." He said and nodded in their direction. Hermione and Ron both blushed.
"Hi," They mumbled.
"What were we talking about before?" Sirius asked Harry.
"What I'm supposed to say when people ask why a dog is following me wherever I go," Harry said.
"That's the one," Sirius said and started to drift into thought.
"I can't just ignore people," Harry said.
"You could tell them the truth, that Dumbledore thinks you need extra protection." Sirius said.
"That's true, but then I'll probably have to explain why." Harry said.
"It's common knowledge You-know-who is after you, Harry. We've known that since we met you." Hermione pointed out.
"To true," Harry said. "I thank that's the only answer that makes sense, anyways."
"Exactly," Sirius said. Harry glanced around the locker room. He had heard a noise that sounded like somebody had turned on a shower.
"What was that?" Hermione said as Harry thought the same thing.
"I'll go check it out." Harry said and stood up.
"Not without me, you wont." Sirius said and in the blink of an eye he was a dog again.
"I don't really need you to come," Harry said irritably. Sirius barked at him and the sound echoed around the room. Harry stuck his head into the room where the shower stalls were. There was nobody in it, but one of them was leaking. Harry tightened the knob on it and headed back to Ron and Hermione. "It was nothing. See I told you," He added to Sirius, who was still a dog. The shaggy dog narrowed his eyes at Harry as if to say, there could have been something there. " I need to get back to work." Harry said.
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Hermione said.
"Oh, no not really. I just need to find Katie and Alicia so we can go over what's happening," Harry said thoughtfully. Hermione looked thoroughly relieved.
"Well then we'll just be in the castle for a bit. I might come down later to watch if I get my homework done." She said. Ron snorted, and Sirius rolled his eyes. Harry showed them the way out and watched them walk slowly up to the castle. Harry could tell Ron and Hermione were having a heated conversation because Hermione had her hands on her hips and was shaking a finger at him.
"Hey, Harry! The field looks great!" Came Alicia voice form behind him.
"I should hope so!" Harry said, "I've only been here since around five thirty!"
"Just don't turn into Oliver on us, okay Harry?" Katie said. Harry let out a short laugh.
"I don't think you need to worry about that." He said. "How many people signed up for try outs?" Katie consulted her clipboard.
"Thirty-seven people," She moaned.
"We'll be here forever!" Alicia cried.
"Not if we man different stations. Let's see, we only have three different things to try out for, that's one for each of us." Harry said.
"I call chaser!" Alicia said a once.
"I'll take keeper," Katie said.
"That leaves me Beaters," Harry said. "It works."
"You are so nice, Harry!" Katie cried and gave him a hug. Harry staggered backwards a little and she broke the hug.
"Uh- thanks?" Harry said.
"If it isn't Potter, the school heartthrob." Said a cold voice from behind him. Harry spun around to face Malfoy.
"What is that you're calling me?" Harry said.
"Nothing." Malfoy said, an evil grin on his face.
"What're you doing here?" Harry snapped.
"Came to enjoy the show." Malfoy said. Goyle and Crabbe guffawed stupidly next to him.
"Well I hope you're having a good time then," Harry said cheerfully, keeping his cool. Malfoy's grin disappeared and he stormed off towards the castle.
"What crawled up his butt and died?" Katie asked looking at the tree people walking towards the castle. Harry and Alicia snorted with laughter. A half an hour later people started showing up for tryouts. Five of them left when they saw the large crowd. Alicia silenced them.
"Okay, tryouts are going to be starting now, so if you could take your places in the lines!" She bellowed to them. The people separated themselves into the three lines. Harry called the first person in the line of beaters over. A little second year boy came running up to him with one of the school brooms. Harry recognized him as Dennis Creevy.
"Hiya Harry!" He said.
"Hello." Harry replied. They rose into the air and Harry threw soccer balls at him to see if he was any good. He wasn't. The poor kid was hit by them all and nearly fell off his broomstick every time. Harry showed him where there was some water and cups when they landed and he walked off panting. Harry noticed the line for his station was smaller than the rest. They had seen poor Dennis get butchered in the air and had wandered off. There were only about seven people left. Alicia was yelling at her line. Harry listened to her.
"Okay people! We've found somebody! Sorry! Better luck next time!" She cried. Grumbling about seventeen people left and headed back to the castle. Harry and Katie ran over to her.
"You've found somebody?" Harry said.
"Yeah she's great!" Alicia said.
"Who is it?" Harry asked at once. Alicia pointed over to the table with the water and cups. There Harry saw Amelia drinking heartily.
"But she's only a first year!" Harry told her. She shrugged.
"You were only a first year too, remember? Anyways McGonagall recruited her, so I think it's okay with Dumbledore." Alicia said and sighed.
"Is she related to you Harry?" Katie asked peering at him.
"No, it's just a coincidence we look a lot the same and act alike." Harry said in a very exasperated tone. Harry went back to his station and finished up the tryouts. He had a good idea of which people he wanted on the team when the last person left. Harry picked up the small mess they had made and threw it into the broom closet. Ron, Hermione and Sirius came down from the stands to meet him.
"Hey Harry!" Hermione said.
"I didn't even notice you guys were here," Harry said.
"Oh, feeling the love over here..." Hermione muttered
"Any idea of who's on the team?" Ron said.
"Well Amelia is on the team and I still am thinking for the Beaters. I think we're announcing it at dinner tonight." Harry said. Hermione nodded.
"So- anything new?" She asked him. Harry looked at her quizzically and Ron elbowed her.
"Uh- what? No," He said slowly in reply. Hermione looked at him in a way that meant she was on to something.
"Are you sure?" She asked. Ron crossed his arms and looked away from her.
"Yes, and I would have told you if anything was new." Harry said.
"Yeah," She said sarcastically. "Sure you would."
"Hermione what's with you?" Harry said.
"Harry, what's with you?" She replied. Harry suddenly understood why she was questioning him so, or at least he thought he did. She wanted to know what he wasn't telling them.
"Nothing is 'with me.' Hermione, what are you trying to get at?" Harry said harshly.
"You know something that we don't." She said and put a hand on her hip.
"So?" Harry said. "I know a lot of things that you don't." Hermione looked at him eagerly.
"Tell us." She said.
"I don't need this right now." Harry muttered under his breath.
"Harry, you don't need to tell us anything," Ron said. Now Hermione elbowed him.
"We have a right to know," Hermione said.
"A right to know what?" Harry cried.
"What you aren't telling us!" She said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry lied. Hermione sensed it and put a hand on her hip. They reached the front doors and pushed them open.
"Just tell us, you'll feel better," She said kindly. Harry was getting a little sick of this argument.
"How would you know, Hermione? It might just make me fell worse, to. Ever think of that?" He snapped. Hermione looked shocked at the tone of his voice.
"I-I wouldn't." She said. She dropped the subject and they headed up into the Gryffindor common room where Harry worked on his homework while Ron and Hermione had a game of chess. Sirius sat watching them and getting the occasional pat on the head from people heading up the stairs. Harry noted that Sirius didn't seem to mind being pet on the head or having somebody scratching behind his ears.
Monday morning came much to soon for Harry. He was very worn out from the tryouts and didn't even notice that the potion dungeon didn't have dried herbs littering the wall until he took his normal seat in the middle of Ron and Hermione.
"I wonder why Professor Delacour quit her job?" Ron asked him. Harry looked up at him, startled.
"She did?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione nodded.
"It's been flying around school all morning." Hermione said. "Where were you when this happened?"
"Not paying attention. I wasn't really listening this morning." Harry said and yawned.
"What were you doing then?" Hermione said skeptically.
"Thinking," Harry said.
"About what?" She asked casually. Harry shrugged.
"Nothing." He answered quickly and Hermione looked a little put out.
"Oh," She said. Harry looked around the room. Snape was back.
"Not him." Harry groaned.
"I wonder why he moved back to being the Potions Master. Didn't he like the job?" Ron said.
"Well we've always know him to be a bit thick, eh?" Harry said. Ron snorted with laughter and Hermione looked cross.
"Harry he's going to hear you!" She hissed harshly but Harry saw amusement in her brown eyes. Snape rapped his wand on his desk and the class fell silent.
"Today we will be working on the Confounded Drought. The user of this potion will become very stupid. Are you taking notes on this?" He barked at the class who all began scribbling on their parchment. Harry noticed that Sirius had his teeth bared at Snape and his eyes were narrowed.
The class finished writing and started making their potions while Snape walked around looking in each of the cauldrons making sure everybody was doing his or hers correctly. When he looked into Harry's he wrinkled his nose.
"Potter, it is much to thin. Work on it." Harry looked into his cauldron when Snape walked away. The bluish-grey potion wasn't thin at all.
"That's not very fair." Harry muttered under his breath.
"Well he's not a very fair person is he Harry?" Ron pointed out.
"I suppose you're right. Calm down Snuffles, he's always been like this to me; it's nothing unusual." Harry added to Sirius, who looked ready to attack at any moment. Snape had now moved to look at the Slytherins cauldrons. He nodded at most of them, and told off Crabbe and Goyle for not even starting yet. He was now looking at Malfoy's. Harry didn't watch, he knew what was coming.
"Perfect, Mr. Malfoy. Your potion is absolutely perfect. The rest of you-" Snape stopped talking abruptly. There was a faint, echoing snap and Harry smelt something burning. He whipped around and realized Malfoy's potion had caught fire. People started to scream. Snape conjured some water and directed it to Malfoy's fiery cauldron. The fire didn't go out. Harry did not start that fire, or did he? He couldn't remember.
Harry wondered if he should help out, by putting out the fire, but decided that he would watch the fun for a while. It took three minutes for Snape to realize that the fire was waterproof. The look of horror on Malfoy and Snapes faces got deeper as the fire didn't burn out. Harry couldn't help but grin. Snape gave up after a while rose his wand to conjure more water. Now was Harry's chance just as the fire was hit with the water Harry extinguished the fire. His grin faded instantly as Snape rounded on him.
"POTTER!" He bellowed. Harry's stomach dropped. Snape had thought Harry started the cauldron fire. The class silenced and looked at Harry.
"Y-yes Professor Snape?" Harry said innocently.
"DETENTION!" Bellowed Snape, very red in the face. Harry wasn't going to stand for this.
"What did I do?" Harry asked. Snape looked ready to explode.
"WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT DID YOU DO?" He yelled, the words echoing off the walls. The class was deadly silent except for Sirius' growling. "POTTER, YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHAT YOU DID!" Harry shook his head innocently.
"No, honestly Professor, I don't." Harry said.
"YOU STARTED THE CAULDRON ON FIRE!" He yelled, now purple in the face, his temples throbbing.
"No I didn't!" Harry said sharply. "My wand is in my book bag! How could I have?" All he was saying was true. He didn't start the fire, and his wand was packed safely away in his book bag. Harry had a nasty feeling that Snape was going to blow his cover about the heir of Merlin.
"YOU USED THAT POW-" But the rest of Snape's sentence was drowned out, because Sirius had picked that exact moment to begin barking very loud. When he stopped Snape looked around until his eyes fell on Sirius. He grinned an evil grin.
"Potter take that dumb mutt out of my classroom, it's disturbing my lesson." He spat to Harry. Harry had to grab Sirius by the collar to prevent him from attacking Snape.
"He has to stay, Professor Snape. Dumbledore's orders." He said coolly.
"Fine, but tell it to shut up." He said. Harry gripped the collar tighter. Dumbledore had made sure Sirius had a collar before he let him 'escort' Harry to his classes. He felt strange, holding his godfather by a collar. It just didn't seem right in a way. Harry let go of the collar and Sirius lay down and put his head on the floor. Some of the girls got up during the rest of the lesson to pet Sirius because they felt sorry for 'the poor puppy.'
When the lesson ended Harry, Ron and Hermione tromped up the stone stairs and leaned against the wall.
"Harry, you didn't set Malfoy's cauldron on fire." Hermione said. "Because that was me. But I didn't put it out either."
"Who did then?" Harry asked, though he already knew the answer.
"That's what gets me," She said thoughtfully. "Because that fire was waterproof, and it looked like Snape put it out with water."
"That was really weird." Ron said.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Because when you were looking at the fire you're eyes were glowing and then it disappeared." Ron pointed out.
"Glowing? It must have been the glint of fire on my glasses. Why would my eyes glow?" Harry said in a panicky tone. Hermione looked at him skeptically.
"They were glowing when you did that fireball thing on the train to." She said. Harry looked at them as though they were crazy.
"What are you getting at?" Harry said.
"Nothing. Oh crap I have to be at Arithmancy in three minutes see you two!" Hermione said and took off down a hall. Ron and Harry departed quickly to. When he reached the Defense against the Dark Arts room, it was deserted. Harry saw that there was a note written on the chalkboard.
"Students, class has been canceled until we find a replacement D.A.D.A. teacher. Use your free time wisely.
"Awesome!" Harry said and strode down the hallway again and found himself in the main hall. "What should we do until lunch?" He asked Sirius. The dog shook its shaggy head. Harry shrugged.
"Why don't we se if Hagrid is busy," He suggested and they headed out into the sunny day. Harry saw Hagrid outside his hut cleaning his windows. Harry and Sirius walked over to him and Hagrid turned around just as they came up to him.
"Harry!" He said.
"Hi Hagrid." Harry said and smiled.
"Why aren't yeh in yer class?" Hagrid said and narrowed his eyes.
"Defense is canceled until they find a teacher." Harry said. Hagrid nodded.
"Why don't you come inside? We could have some tea." He said and started to walk into the hut. Harry and Sirius followed him inside. Hagrid looked at Sirius long and hard. "That dog looks mighty familiar." He said to Harry.
"Really?" Harry said, surprised.
"Yeah, reminds me of somebody, I can't put my finger on who." He said, deep in thought. Harry felt a little nervous.
"Don't you mean 'what' instead of 'who'?" Harry asked. Hagrid shook his head.
"No, his eyes look so familiar. Look a lot like- nah it couldn't be." Hagrid said.
"Who?" Harry said eagerly.
"Almost like a boy I knew a long time ago. Almost twenty years since he graduated." Hagrid said.
"Oh." Harry said. "That's strange."
"Not really, I've always thought Fang looked a little like my old dad," Hagrid said thoughtfully. Harry looked down at Fang. Harry didn't think he looked anything like Hagrid's dead father. "What's his name?" Hagrid asked Harry.
"Snuffles," Harry said shortly. Hagrid looked at him strangely.
"You named him that?" He asked, looking disgusted.
"No, name came with the dog. I had no choice." Harry said and looked down at Sirius.
"I woulda named him 'Pepper.' It fits because he's got blackish hair." Hagrid said.
"That's a good name." Harry said.
"It's strange how much he looks like him," Hagrid said.
"Looks like who?" Harry said.
"Black. He's got Black's eyes." Hagrid said slowly. Harry's stomach sank for he second time today.
"Was Black and Animagus?" Harry asked Hagrid, though he knew the answer was yes.
"No, he couldn't possibly have been. He was very smart, but only seven people have ever managed to actually do it this century." Hagrid said thoughtfully.
"Oh," Harry said. He was relieved, for a second, Harry thought Hagrid was on to them. Harry looked at the clock on Hagrid's wall. "I have to go to lunch now, Hagrid, bye!" Harry and Sirius walked out of Hagrid's hut and headed up towards the school. They walked into the castle and met up with Ron and Hermione.
"Class was canceled until they find a teacher!" Harry said excitedly. Hermione frowned.
"We'll fall behind!" She said. Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay fine, we won't be behind, but that's a lot of free time to you, Harry."
"I know!" Harry said, pleased.
"Snape at seven o'clock Harry," Hermione suddenly hissed out of the corner of her mouth. Harry casually looked behind him and saw Snape looking still very mad. Harry snapped his head back forward as Snape drew nearer to them.
"Potter I need to speak privately." He muttered in Harry's ear.
"I'll see you guys later." Harry said to Ron and Hermione. Harry and Sirius turned to follow Snape into his office. Snape shut and locked the door and pulled the curtains down.
"Sirius, your usual form, please." He commanded. Sirius turned back into a man, a look of utmost disgust on his face.
"What do you want?" He spat at him.
"I have to warn Potter of something." He said, keeping his temper, though his eyes flashed.
"Warn me of something?" Harry said, startled.
"You do know that I have been writing a report on how strong your powers are, correct?" Snape said business like. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, since summer." Harry said.
"How?" He asked. Harry looked at him strangely.
"Why do you ask?" Harry said coyly. Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Don't be insubordinate now, Potter. Just tell me." Snape snapped. Harry narrowed his eyes at Snape.
"Why do you want to know?" He asked more fiercely.
"JUST TELL ME!" Snape said loudly.
"Well I wasn't there in person. Put two and two together." Harry said coldly. Snape thought about this for a while.
"In a dream?" He said finally.
"Good job." Harry said. He glanced over at Sirius, who had amusement in his eyes. "What are you going to warn me about?"
"I warning you that they are going to use that power of yours against you, they are." Snape said.
"How could they use it against me?" Harry wondered out loud.
"I don't know, but they have plans to kill you." Snape said. Sirius shuddered.
"Tell me something I don't already know." Harry said bitterly. "Voldemort's been after me since my parents died. That's not recent news."
"Okay, okay. But watch your back, Potter." Snape said. Harry looked at Snape with malice in his eyes.
"Nobody can harm me here, there are way to many people watching me." Harry said.
"Don't be to sure of that." Snape said.
"I don't know if I trust you," Harry said and Sirius nodded. "I'm still trying to decide if you want to save me or kill me." Snape said nothing.
"How do you know all of this?" He asked.
"I'm a lot smarter than everybody gives me credit for." Harry snapped. "I know what I'm doing, and I always have."
"You can leave now." Snape said and pointed towards the door. Sirius turned back into the shaggy black dog and they walked out of the room. Hermione and Ron were standing three feet away from them and had 'guilty' written all over their faces.
"How much did you two hear?" Harry asked them. They both blushed. "The entire thing?" They nodded.
"Harry, who's plotting to kill you?" Asked Ron almost at once.
"Do you really need to ask?" Harry said bitterly. He opened his mouth to speak again but Hermione cut him off.
"What powers do you have?" Hermione said.
"What powers do you have?" Harry snapped back to her.
"Urgh!" She fumed, and raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Why are you so- so impossible?"
"Take a hint, Hermione. I'm not going to tell you," Harry said in an icy and very exasperated tone.
"So you are keeping something from us!" She said quickly in the same icy tone. Harry didn't answer her. Ron looked mildly shocked to see them fighting. He kept looking from Hermione to Harry and then back again. Harry noticed that he seemed to agree with her, from the look on his face.
"Just tell us!" She said to Harry harshly.
"Figure it out on your own," Harry snapped. Hermione looked like she had just seen Harry in a whole new light. Her eyes narrowed dangerously and Harry backed slightly away from her, but she rounded on him before he could get away.
"Harry Potter, you are so- you are such a JERK!" And she slapped him very hard on his left cheek. Harry's head jerked sideways and he stumbled over into Ron. A surge of anger ran through him and he turned around and walked quickly in the other direction, Sirius close behind him. He was not quite sure where he was going at the moment, but he didn't care, as long as he was far, far away from Hermione. His cheek still stung from where she slapped him. Harry didn't stop walking until he found a seat in one of the halls. Sirius jumped up and sat on the bench next to him. Harry knew by the look in his eyes that he was going to ask why he hadn't told Ron or Hermione who he really was.
"Because," Harry told the shaggy black dog, "I don't need anymore rumors about me spreading around the entire school." Sirius nodded his head very reluctantly. Harry rubbed his cheek, where the pain was still lingering. He took a deep breath and stood up and headed down the hall towards lunch.
He sat down away from Ron and Hermione, and they kept shooting him looks that Harry couldn't read, but whenever their eyes locked, Harry quickly looked away. He talked to Neville during lunch about how unfair Snape was to the Gryffindors. Harry listened to him and commented every once in a while, but he was mainly trying to listen to Hermione and Ron's conversation. He only caught his name and a few tidbits of a very heated conversation. It seemed Hermione was mad at Harry still, and Harry planned to fight back. His friends had never seen him argue at all, and he half wanted to surprise them, and then win.
A month went by without Harry hardly noticing it. Between homework and Quidditch practice, Harry was incredibly busy. Hermione and Harry were still furious with each other and weren't speaking. Ron wasn't mad at Harry, but sided with Hermione in the fight so Harry wasn't really speaking with him either. He was lonely, but hardly noticed because off all his work.
One day Harry was sitting at lunch, his mind wandering when Professor McGonagall appeared at his shoulder. Harry, startled looked up at her. "C-can I help you?" Harry said. She nodded.
"Dumbledore wants to see that dog of yours. Don't ask me why, but he does," She added as if Dumbledore didn't know what he was doing. Sirius got to his feet and padded softly out of the room. Harry watched him until he turned the corner and was out of sight. He gazed into his bowl of soup. He ate it quietly and got up from the table and started slowly walking towards the door. He heard the scrape of chairs on the floor, but he didn't bother to look at who it was. He still had a half an hour before class started. Harry decided to go up to his dorm and get his books. He started climbing the stairs. He took the shortcut through the suit of armor on the third floor and heard somebody following him. Harry glanced around casually and saw, to his disgust, Hermione and Ron. He quickened his pace and so did they.
Harry didn't want to be followed, especially this early in the morning so he started to jog. He got to the other end of the shortcut and looked around his surroundings. He had seen a hidden room on the Marauders Map once a long time ago and looked down the hall to see if he could remember where it was. Ron and Hermione came out of the shortcut and looked at him with searching eyes.
"Harry-" Hermione started, but stopped talking when she saw the cold look on Harry's face. She started walking slowly towards him. Harry glanced around his surroundings and saw where he needed to go, a large portrait of two old witches playing chess.
"Forgive me," Harry said solemnly.
"I certainly will not!" Hermione said and opened her mouth to speak again but snapped it shut as Harry rose his wand high in the air.
"Not about that, because of this," Harry said. He swooshed his wand down and then shot a thick purple mist out of his wand. He dove through the portrait of the chess players and landed in a beautifully furnished room. It had rich scarlet armchairs and springy carpet to match. A warm fire crackled on one side of the room. Harry looked to the portrait he had come through. It was semi transparent so you could see the hall and the portrait. Hermione had apparently cleared the fog away and they were both looking madly around them to see where he had got to.
"Where did he go?" Ron said and looked behind his shoulder. Hermione followed his gaze and shook her head.
"That fog barely lasted for ten seconds, he couldn't have run that fast…" She said and looked up the hall towards the portrait of the fat lady.
"Have you ever seen that boy run?" Ron said skeptically. Hermione shook her head.
"Not that I can remember," She said thoughtfully. "Is he really fast or something?"
"It's amazing. It's almost like he's running from something terrible, so he goes like three times as fast as normal people." Ron said quietly.
"I never knew that," Said Hermione, her brows crossed. Harry was to the point of puking; he was so sick of them talking about him behind his back. Harry got up from the chair he was sitting in and walked over to the exit of the room. If he did this right, he could scare the crap out of them.
"Ever had the feeling you were being watched?" Ron said suddenly. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, right now." She said and looked around her. Her eyes met Harry's, but she couldn't see him. "It's really weird."
"I don't care who hears us, just as long as it's not Harry. I really wish it's not him." Ron said to Hermione and the both looked down the hallway at the same time. Harry seized the opprotunity and stepped silently out of the room. He started running towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. Ron and Hermione whipped around and looked at him.
"Be careful what you wish for, Ron!" Harry called behind his shoulder. He got to the portrait hole and clambered through it and dashed up to his room. He grabbed his book bag and some pieces of homework and ran back down the spiral staircase, hoping to avoid Hermione and Ron at all costs. It was too late; they had already come into the common room and were blocking the staircase exit. Harry stopped very quickly. He looked at their determined faces and then at the stairs. He spun around again and started to jog up the stairs again. He heard footsteps after him.
"Stop!" Panted Hermione, "Hold it right there. We need to talk to you!" Harry didn't stop running. He had reached the dorm room and he ran inside it without thinking. Hermione and Ron caught up to him and bustled inside the room and blocked the door. He was trapped. Harry looked hopelessly around the room to see if there was anyway to get out. There wasn't.
"Trapped," Said Ron, a look of amusement on his exhausted face.
"I need to get to class, so if you wouldn't mind moving," said Harry irritably, ignoring Ron.
"You're excused. McGonagall wanted us to talk to you anyways, she doesn't mind if we're late." Hermione said.
"Okay let me rephrase this- I don't want to 'talk.'" Harry said coldly to Hermione. Her eyes flashed and Harry lost the icy tone in his voice, he didn't want to be slapped again.
"You've got no choice." Hermione said. "Seriously Harry, we need to talk." Ron and Hermione's eye bore into Harry and he felt like a little kid running away from his parents.
"What do you want to talk about?" Harry said as if he didn't know.
"We're concerned about you-" Hermione stumbled.
"Why?" Harry interjected. He didn't like it when people were concerned about him; he liked to think he could take care of himself.
"Harry you've been acting all jumpy since we picked you up over the summer." Hermione said lightly. Harry looked at them flatly.
"You'd be jumpy to if you were in my shoes." He said.
"What's in your shoes?" Ron said with a slight grin. Harry didn't answer, he didn't even look at him, afraid he might laugh.
"You know what I mean." He snapped.
"If you told us what was going on maybe we'd understand you better." Hermione said. Harry had the nocuous feeling in his stomach again.
"And if I don't want to tell you?" Harry said.
"If you don't want to except it." Hermione shot back at him. Harry glared at her.
"You don't know that Hermione, so don't say it." Harry said bitterly. Hermione looked at him with searching eyes.
" Harry, why are you so secretive?" Hermione said her voice strangely muffled, as if holding back tears. Harry sincerely hoped she wasn't going to cry.
"If you'd been through half of what I've been through, you'd learn not to trust anybody to." He said shortly.
"Y-you don't trust us?" She choked.
"Look what happened to my parents when they trusted one of their best friends. They were murdered." Harry spat.
"Like we'd kill you," Said Ron mildly.
"I never said you would." He told Ron. "But there are many others who would love to."
"Harry, you're not going to be killed." Hermione said. Tears were silently streaming down her face now.
"Don't hold your breath." Harry said. "Let's face it Hermione. I've been lucky four times; do you really think that I'm always going to be that lucky? If you call it lucky…" Nobody said anything in response to this.
"Are you very happy, Harry?" Said Ron, breaking the tense moment.
"Happy? What kind of question is that?" Harry said.
"You don't smile much anymore." Hermione pointed out.
"Do I have a reason to smile or laugh?" Harry said. A lump was starting to appear in his throat.
"You've got everything!" Ron said.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore, thanks. I'd much rather be in transfiguration where nobody is questioning me non-stop." Harry said and stood up. Hermione and Ron both put hands on his shoulder to hold him back.
"You can't leave." Hermione said. Harry glared at them both.
"The hell I can. Get you're hands off of me." He hissed. They didn't take their hands of his shoulders. "Don't make me do something you're going to regret."
"Like what, Harry?" Ron said. Harry looked at him.
"You wanted to know the other day what my powers were?" He said.
"Yes?" Hermione said eagerly. They didn't move their hands off of him.
"Well, I was you I wouldn't want them used on me." Harry said shortly.
"You cant get us Harry, you dropped your wand on your bed," Ron pointed out. Harry let out a hollow laugh.
"There are some types of magic where you don't need a wand, Ron." Harry said.
"Was that a threat?" Hermione asked. She clearly didn't think Harry would ever hurt them.
"You're the genius, you figure it out." Harry said. Hermione blushed as if this was a compliment. How wrong she was. Harry suddenly froze. He couldn't believe himself. He was being so stupid. "I'm sorry, I'm acting like a jackass. Hermione you're right. I can't accept it, and if I can't accept it, I'm pretty sure you guys won't be able to."
"What can't you accept?" Hermione said lightly, hoping he wouldn't blow up on them again.
"That is none of your business." Harry said and pushed through their arms and walked off to Transfiguration.