"Harry?"
"Voice! God. It's good to hear you again. I missed you."
"Are you alright?"
"Argh. No. Not really."
"Why are you out of the hospital wing, then?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm justreally upset. I couldn't stay there any longer."
"But are you better now? No permanent injuries?"
"WellI'm getting there. It's just a matter of time, really. I'll fine."
"Are youin a lot of pain?"
"Mmm. Some. He did it on purpose, voice."
"You think so? What exactly happened?"
"Malfoy pushed me down the stairs. Broke my arm."
"They say it was an accident."
"It wasn't an accident. He had to push me toward the stairs first."
"Oh."
"Do you believe me?"
"Yes. I do, Harry. I'm sorry this happened."
"Yeah. Thanks. That really helps, you know."
"I missed you too, Harry."
*
"Harry!"
""
"Harry, wake up!"
"Argh. I'm awake, I'm awake."
"It's magic hour again."
"Oh. What was it this time?"
"'Let me out.' Something like that. I was worried you'd wake up your housemates."
"Right. Thanks."
"You alright?"
"Hmmmm. Will be in a bit. Argh, I hate nightmares."
"Yeah, me too."
"What are they about?"
"The nightmares?"
"Yeah. You don't have to tell me if you don't want."
"Hmmm. It's. Well. It's all kinds of things, really. Mostly it's Voldemort."
"Yeah. That must be pretty scary, all the things you've seen."
"Uh huh. And Cedric."
"Oh. Hmm, yeah. That was really awful."
"My parents too, sometimes. I have nightmares that they hate me."
"Ouch. You know that's not true."
"Yeah, it's not true. They're dead."
"I'm sorry. That came out wrong."
"Heh. And sometimes it's my aunt and uncle. That's what it was tonight."
"Really? What about them? Dream you're stuck in Muggle-land?"
"Ha! I wish it were just that. They used to keep me in a closet under the stairs."
"What, as a punishment?"
"No. All the time."
"Are you shitting me?"
"Nope. I lived in a closet until I came to Hogwarts. I wore my cousin's cast off clothes. One summer when I was home they put bars on my windows and gave me tinned soup once a day."
"That'sthat's outrageous."
"Hmm."
"Is this why all your clothes are too big?"
"Uh, yeah. My cousin is pretty portly."
"My God. Didn't Dumbledore leave you with those people?"
"Well, yes."
"The man should go to Azkaban for that. Child neglect. It's horrible!"
"Heh. I've often wondered why he let that happen. For the greater good and all that. They're my only family."
"Greater good my ass. Did you dream you were back in the closet?"
"Ha! Yeah, I did. They threw me into the closet and plastered over it. With my dead parents inside."
"Oh. Highly unpleasant."
"What are your nightmares about?"
"Hmmm. Well."
"You don't have to tell."
"Nah, I will. It's just. Hmm. I've never really told anyone before."
"I won't tell."
"I know you won't. I'm. Uh. Mostly it's my father. He."
"He hits you, doesn't he."
"Well, yeah. I mean, geez, don't all fathers do that?"
"Um. I don't think so."
"Oh. Well. Yeah, that, then."
"God, what else does he do to you?"
"You really don't want to know."
"I wish you'd tell me who you are."
"Why?"
"You shouldn't be telling this story to someone who can't do anything about it."
"Hmm. The only sort of person I can tell, really."
"You don't sound like a Slytherin anymore."
"What do Slytherins sound like?"
"I don't know. Cold? Unpleasant? Not like you."
*
"Argh."
"Trouble, Harry?"
"Hmm. Yes. Transfiguration paper."
"What's your topic?"
"Animagi."
"Ah the forbidden art. Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure."
"I'm an Animagi."
"No way, really? God. I'm so jealous. I've been working out how to do that."
"I could show you. It's not as hard as you think."
"What's your animagus form?"
"Voice? Are you still there?"
"Voice? You're scaring me."
"Oh my god. There'sthere's a huge bird outside my window. Voice? Is that you?"
"A huge white bird. Hold on, I'll open the window."
"Voice? Here, you canyeah. Perch on my arm."
"Wow, voice. You'reyou're beautiful."
*
"Harry?"
"Voice! Hi!"
"You tapped?"
"That was you? Last night?"
"Yes. That was me."
"What, um, what kind of bird are you?"
"A crane, Potter. I'd be horrified that you don't know that, but I'll chalk it up to you growing up in a closet."
"Hmph."
"Do you always sleep half-naked, or was that a show just for me?"
"Oh god. Well, I didn't know I was going to have visitors."
"Hey, I don't mind."
"Hmph."
"Do you mind that I don't mind?"
"Oddly enough, no. I don't."
"You guessed that much?"
"Hmmmm no, not really. I hadn't given it much thought."
"No?"
"Not really."
"You still like me?"
"Ha! Yes! Of course I do. Gryffindors are good and noble, remember?"
"Right. Just like Peter Petti—"
"Shut up."
*
"Harry? Are you there?"
*
"Harry? Please."
*
"Voice?"
"Harry! There you are. Where've you been?"
"I was out with Ron. Having a heart to heart."
"Oh?"
"Don't worry, I didn't tell him anything. I mean, what am I going to tell him? Hey, Ron, I have a crush on a disembodied voice in the pipes.' I'm sure that would go over well."
"Uh"
"Heh. Is that okay?"
"Um. Yeah. That's okay. You don't know who I am, though."
"That is a bit of a fly in this ointment, it's true."
"I don't think I'm who you think I am. Or who you hope I am."
"And who might that be?"
"I don't know. But"
"Maybeit's time to tell me?"
"II can't, Harry. I just can't."
*
"Voice?"
*
"Voice? Come on. It's okay, I swear. Don't be scared of me, okay?"