Chapter eight

Ron had spent the last two hours on his bed, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't spoken the entire time. He seemed almost comatose. Knowing Ron, there was practically no chance of him opening up, not anytime soon anyway.

Harry went upstairs to see if Ron was any better, although he highly doubted it. He pulled a chair over next to Ron's bed and sat quietly. Ron was still eyeing the ceiling, and by the looks of it, hadn't mentally noted Harry's presence. Harry tried to respect Ron's current situation, but at the same time he knew that the ceiling wasn't giving him any good ideas on how to solve it. Finally Harry broke the unnerving silence.

"Look, Ron, I understand that you're not in the best of moods right now, but don't you think you'd have a better use of your time than wallowing in your own despair?"

Harry hadn't really thought of trying to word that nicely while it was coming out of his mouth, but it was a little late now. Besides, not like Ron expected him to be Mr. Sensitivity anyway. After a few minutes and no response, Harry resigned and got up to leave. It was then that Ron at last was able to tear his gaze from his wishful visions on the ceiling and look at Harry. But Harry had already walked out of the room and was heading down the stairs.

It was nearly six o'clock, and neither of them had come out of their dorms. Harry and Ginny were growing restless, so they decided to go down to dinner, thinking that maybe one or both of them would get hungry and come down. They tried to have a normal, cheery conversation, but neither of them could bring themselves to be excited when their best friends were upstairs in distress. Well, Ron was in distress, and Hermione...well, who could know? They sat down at the table and slowly filled their plates. Someone called out Harry's name, and when he turned around to answer what turned out to be Seamus, he noticed a pair of cold eyes staring at him. But this wasn't just a stare; Malfoy had the strangest look of shock and confusion on his face. Harry thought maybe he was looking at someone past himself, but this stare was directed straight at him. Harry turned around, feeling very odd indeed, and pointed this out to Ginny.

"Ginny, erm...don't make it obvious, but would you look at Malfoy? He looks like a frog jumped down his throat..."

Ginny moved her head past Harry's and got a good look. What in the...He really did look like something had jumped down his throat. Harry had half a mind to go ask Malfoy what was so interesting, but Ginny dissuaded him, and he sat back down. Harry was a little disconcerted by his stare...it wasn't really a hateful stare, but really more like something was horribly wrong. Even later, as the two of them left for the common room, he could feel Malfoy's eyes on him.

They were about to go up the stairs to the Gryffindor tower when Harry decided he couldn't take anymore. He really wanted to know what was up with Malfoy. He ran back down the stairs and walked right up to Malfoy, with Ginny just ten steps behind him. She looked worried.

"Alright Malfoy, what the hell is so interesting??"

"Huh?" Malfoy hadn't even noticed that Harry had approached him, he had been so deep in thought.

"I asked you what was so interesting..." Harry couldn't help but feel like somewhat of a bully, but this was no time to be nice.

"Oh, I was just noticing how...together you and Ginny are, that's all..."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? How together we are?

Harry tried to figure out what he meant, but nothing could explain it...

"Is that all then, Potter? You're pathetic excuse of a witch girlfriend is waiting for you." Malfoy sneered and turned back to Crabbe and Goyle. Harry glared threateningly at Malfoy, then turned around to see Ginny's reaction. Good thing she didn't hear that...they both thought to themselves. Harry thought about cursing him really badly, but knew it wasn't worth it.

"You take that back..."

"Take it back? Are you kidding? That's probably one of the dumbest things I've ever heard! Why would I take it back, huh Potter? Besides, withdrawal of my statement wouldn't relieve it of truth..."

Malfoy almost cackled at Harry's anger. But Harry simply walked away, fire burning dangerously in his eyes. Malfoy definitely seemed back to his usual self, but what Harry couldn't see was that, as soon as Harry and Ginny had placed enough distance between themselves and the Slytherin table, Malfoy went back to staring, and rubbing a phial in his pocket maliciously.

Harry tried to control his anger in front of Ginny; he didn't want to have to tell her what Malfoy had said.

"Did that seem just a bit odd to you? I mean, Malfoy talking about how odd it was that we were together, almost as if he were expecting us not to be..."

"Harry, are you okay?" she asked, ignoring his last statement. She could obviously read his emotions better than he thought. Harry smiled and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just wish I knew what he was going on about..."

Wow, this would be so much easier to understand if Hermione were here...

Then, as if a wish were granted...

"Harry! I think--oh my gosh, I think I've got it!!"