Chapter 8: Unspoken Thoughts
On Christmas morning Harry woke up again after another night of restless sleep that he had become accustomed to, to be staring straight into Ron's face leering over him.
"Have a bad dream?" Ron said returning to the side of his bed.
"No, why do you ask?" Harry said slightly harsher than he meant to.
"No reason. You don't have to bite my head off!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to, I just haven't, I just haven't been sleeping well since school started."
The both got up and went down to the common room.
"Well, here's your sweater from my mum. And ah, this one's from me and Hermione, we both chipped in to get it for you." he said, placing a poorly wrapped ball shaped present into Harry's palm.
Harry unwrapped it quickly to reveal a black crystal ball in his palm.
"It's a Mood and Memory Ball. Me and Hermione have already imputed some of our memories. The color is your mood. Blue-happy, green-calm, red-angry, black- sad, and so on."
"So why is it black, and why is nothing happening? The blasted thing is broken."
"No it's not, you're not concentrating." Ron said, taking offense but then lightening his tone. " It shows your mood until you think of a memory and then it makes you feel what you were feeling in that memory."
"Well, thanks for getting me a broken ball." Harry said sarcastically. Ron was just about to burst when Hermione walked in.
"So did you give it to him?"
"Yeah, it's broken." Harry exclaimed, outstretching his hand to show Hermione the black ball.
"Well?" Said Ron expectantly.
"Well what?" Harry said.
"Well what! Well what! You didn't get us anything did you! You see, Hermione! I was right, Hermione had this idea that you were going to go all out on our presents to say sorry for the way you've been acting, but I was right you…"
"As a matter of fact I lost your presents." Harry said coolly.
"That's all right Harry." Said Hermione in an understanding tone.
"No, that's not all right Harry! We've been friends since the first train ride to Hogwarts and just because of a stupid argument that I don't even remember how it started or what it was about, you just quit being our friends overnight! After all we've been through together, you can't do that. I mean, what the hell is the matter with you!
"I said I lost your presents! You dull witted twat" Harry said slamming the Memory ball on the table.
"It's not about the presents! I could give a toss about the bloody presents! It's everything. It's you and Malfoy, it's…"
"So I can't have any other friends but you and Hermione!"
"Let me finish!" Ron exclaimed. "It's your attitude in all of your classes, especially Snape's, and you actually asking that tosser to teach you how to duel, it's what you did to Hagrid by leaving the gate unlocked!"
"That was an accident!" Shouted Harry.
"That's what me and Hermione were trying to convince Hagrid an hour after you left, but we saw you, you left it open on purpose and then bailed."
Harry's head was swimming with pain and he clenched his fists over his forehead until things cleared up.
"You know absolutely nothing, it was an accident I tell you! If you don't believe me then you can just…you can just keep your cheap gift." Harry said taking his wand and sending it flying out the window nearly hitting Ron's head as the pain in his scar once again began to rise.
"That's a cheap shot Harry. What's the matter, aren't enough strings to grab at! Listen Harry," Ron said lowering his voice "me and Hermione, we know something's wrong and we're not the only one's … just tell us what's wrong, Please."
"Shut it and leave me alone." placing his right hand on the chair beside him to steady himself.
"No, never! I'm your friend Harry." Ron said, placing his right hand on Harry's left shoulder. "Look at yourself, I may have my bouts of stupid-ness and I may be poor but I don't have to be a rich genius to know you need help."
"Stop it, the both of you!" Hermione pleaded, but it was too late as Harry, seeing a swarm of colours, swung his right fist with all his might. Hearing a small squeal from Hermione, his fist came in contact with the left side of Ron's face, knocking him to the ground.
"That's what you get." Harry said, then rushed out of the common room. Ron got up and wiped the blood from his cheek, looking at where Harry had just left and spoke quietly to himself, "I'm sorry Harry." his throat choking up, "sorry for not seeing it earlier." He turned to Hermione who was still stunned " We need to speak with Dumbledore…Now."