-Yes, it's finally here! Chapter three of my strange little fanfic. Title
of this episode thanks to Tool (Love your work, guys). Shout-outs to
everyone who's bothered to review thus far. All three of you. (Don't mind
me, I'm just bitter today...Today?!) Also, big thanks to J.K.R. for
creating these fab characters for us fanfickers to play with. Please keep
reading my stuff, it gives me a sense of purpose in the world. All
appologies for this being shorter than usual. If you want someone to blame,
then go and whinge to my maths teacher. Cheerio!
Chapter 3 Wear Your Grudge Like A Crown
To say Harry wasn't in the best of moods, was a grevious understatement. He'd watched himself go from slightly grumpy, to full-blown pissed off, as Christmas approached. He rarely spoke, and when he did, a dangerous undertone of anger seeped into his usually gentle voice. He prowled the halls, generally after dark, although in search or what, he didn't know. Ron had enquired, and Harry knew he was afraid that his friend had once again found the Mirror Of Erised, but Harry had muttered something about needing to sort things out, and dissapeared again.
He'd almost become nocturnal. Whenever Ron or Hermione's back was turned, he'd slip off into the shadows, as if he'd never been there at all. Harry couldn't explain why it was that he preferred solitude, to the company of his friends; they'd stuck by him through everything. But these new thoughts were invading his head. He wasn't sure if this was how it felt to go mad, but he assumed it was something close. New musings appeared out of no- where, things about... Certain people.
Days had gone by since Harry's encounter with Draco, and yet his mind still buzzed. He thought back to his first impression of the Slytherin, back in Madam Malkin's, when he'd likened him to Dudley. Draco had changed since then. The petty taunts had stopped somewhere after fourth year, as had the bragging. From what Harry heard, Lucius had been demoted in Voldemort's ranks. Apparently, Draco was now devoid of things to brag about.
He caught himself. He'd been thinking about Draco again. 'Malfoy,' he told himself, 'bloody well call him Malfoy.' He shook his head, trying to clear away the fog in his mind, which had formed in recent days. When, if, he slept, he dreamed strange visions; rather than his usual nightmares. He could cope with nightmares. He knew how to feel about Voldemort, and losing his parents. But these new dreams... He didn't remember all the details; he wished not to remember the ones he could recall. Especially not that one, platinum blonde figure, that he always seemed to find himself saving. Or had Draco been saving him?
Harry slipped out of the comfort of his bed, and into the cold darkness. Ron hadn't come back into the dorm, the last Harry had seen of him, he'd been curled up with Hermione in the Common room. Although Harry was glad that his two best friends were happy, he found himself feeling more and more isolated. A majority of his year were slowly pairing up, things were changing so fast. Too fast, for Harry's liking.
He made his way out of the Gryffindor dorm, the invisability cloak covering him from head to toe. He wished, not for the first time, that things could go back to the way they had been in the past. When Ron, Hermione and himself were just friends, nothing more. When life at Hogwarts consisted of friends, classes, homework, Quidditch, and the occasional adventure. Things had been so simple back then. 'Things have to change,' Harry reminded himself, 'it's the way the world works.' He continued his stroll around the castle, deep in thought. It was as though his childhood was slipping away; as if he was shedding the person he'd once been, and emerging this completely new Harry Potter. He didn't like the feeling one bit.
The warmth of his bed was beginning to wear off, and Harry shivered in the cold night. He longed to go outside, but a fresh blanket of snow was falling, dampening any hopes of escaping the confines of the castle. It was the first time that he'd found himself resenting the castle. He rounded a corner, and almost collided with a dark figure. He stepped aside just in time, his heart hammering in his chest. He'd immediatly assumed that if anyone else were to be wandering the halls after lights-out, it would be a teacher, but to his surprise, he found himself face to face once more, with Draco Malfoy.
Chapter 3 Wear Your Grudge Like A Crown
To say Harry wasn't in the best of moods, was a grevious understatement. He'd watched himself go from slightly grumpy, to full-blown pissed off, as Christmas approached. He rarely spoke, and when he did, a dangerous undertone of anger seeped into his usually gentle voice. He prowled the halls, generally after dark, although in search or what, he didn't know. Ron had enquired, and Harry knew he was afraid that his friend had once again found the Mirror Of Erised, but Harry had muttered something about needing to sort things out, and dissapeared again.
He'd almost become nocturnal. Whenever Ron or Hermione's back was turned, he'd slip off into the shadows, as if he'd never been there at all. Harry couldn't explain why it was that he preferred solitude, to the company of his friends; they'd stuck by him through everything. But these new thoughts were invading his head. He wasn't sure if this was how it felt to go mad, but he assumed it was something close. New musings appeared out of no- where, things about... Certain people.
Days had gone by since Harry's encounter with Draco, and yet his mind still buzzed. He thought back to his first impression of the Slytherin, back in Madam Malkin's, when he'd likened him to Dudley. Draco had changed since then. The petty taunts had stopped somewhere after fourth year, as had the bragging. From what Harry heard, Lucius had been demoted in Voldemort's ranks. Apparently, Draco was now devoid of things to brag about.
He caught himself. He'd been thinking about Draco again. 'Malfoy,' he told himself, 'bloody well call him Malfoy.' He shook his head, trying to clear away the fog in his mind, which had formed in recent days. When, if, he slept, he dreamed strange visions; rather than his usual nightmares. He could cope with nightmares. He knew how to feel about Voldemort, and losing his parents. But these new dreams... He didn't remember all the details; he wished not to remember the ones he could recall. Especially not that one, platinum blonde figure, that he always seemed to find himself saving. Or had Draco been saving him?
Harry slipped out of the comfort of his bed, and into the cold darkness. Ron hadn't come back into the dorm, the last Harry had seen of him, he'd been curled up with Hermione in the Common room. Although Harry was glad that his two best friends were happy, he found himself feeling more and more isolated. A majority of his year were slowly pairing up, things were changing so fast. Too fast, for Harry's liking.
He made his way out of the Gryffindor dorm, the invisability cloak covering him from head to toe. He wished, not for the first time, that things could go back to the way they had been in the past. When Ron, Hermione and himself were just friends, nothing more. When life at Hogwarts consisted of friends, classes, homework, Quidditch, and the occasional adventure. Things had been so simple back then. 'Things have to change,' Harry reminded himself, 'it's the way the world works.' He continued his stroll around the castle, deep in thought. It was as though his childhood was slipping away; as if he was shedding the person he'd once been, and emerging this completely new Harry Potter. He didn't like the feeling one bit.
The warmth of his bed was beginning to wear off, and Harry shivered in the cold night. He longed to go outside, but a fresh blanket of snow was falling, dampening any hopes of escaping the confines of the castle. It was the first time that he'd found himself resenting the castle. He rounded a corner, and almost collided with a dark figure. He stepped aside just in time, his heart hammering in his chest. He'd immediatly assumed that if anyone else were to be wandering the halls after lights-out, it would be a teacher, but to his surprise, he found himself face to face once more, with Draco Malfoy.