A/N: I just wanna say thanks to my great reviewers! I really do appreciate
it! Please keep reviewing everyone, please??!!
**************************
Harry never waited for Ron and Hermione to go to breakfast or classes. He always just headed off by himself and later they would follow. Hermione, on seeing that Harry wasn't going to offer Ron or her a seat next to him, decided that they would just go and plonk themselves next to him. The first day they did this, Harry didn't show any emotion, he didn't move away, he just sat quietly and stared ahead. So Ron and Hermione continued to sit next to or near him. After, a few weeks, Ron didn't think they should bother to make the effort to sit next to him but Hermione thought it was important to continue their strange ritual. Even though he didn't talk, Hermione still enjoyed the times where Harry was with them. If not in spirit, at least in body.
Sometimes, Hermione and Harry would lock eyes and although it pained her to see what was in his eyes, she loved the fact that he would still look at her. She found hope deep in his hard, green eyes. The eyes, that used to twinkle and glow, lightening up an entire room. The eyes that were now were sunken into his pale face. Even the colour seemed to have faded. Faded with the death, anger and sadness that he'd been through. She longed to free him from his cage of misery, unlock his heart which had been bolted shut with a huge metal padlock. The only way his eyes would twinkle again would be to unlock his heart again. Hermione was determined to do just that.
One morning, Ron and Hermione and the other Gryffindors were talking over breakfast when all of a sudden, Neville came bounding in. He was running as fast as his short, pudgy legs would carry him. Dean called out as he sped past their table, "Whose chasing ya Neville?" Neville didn't answer just pointed behind him, to the Great Hall doors. Their question was soon answered when Lavender, another Gryffindor, came running in yelling a string of obscenities all attached with Neville's name. Hearing her, Neville's face contorted into a look of absolute horror. She continued chasing him and soon the gap between them began to close. They raced around the Great Hall, to the cheering and yelling of all the Hogwart's students before Neville ducked back through the entrance doors again. Furious, Lavender followed and the next sound they heard was Lavender hexing a terrified Neville. The Great Hall burst into laughter and happy talking began as everyone tried to work out what Neville had done.
Ron was grinning ear to ear, Seamus and Dean were holding on to each other to try and stay on their seats they were laughing so hard and Hermione was giggling into her hand. Just as Hermione turned in the direction of Harry, she saw a tiny smile flicker across his face. She bent close and whispered quietly in his ear, "It is okay to laugh, you know." He looked shocked and then suddenly shot up from his seat and walked away. She stared longingly after him, now frowning. She was glad she had caught his small smile and she was glad she had spoken to him. At least she knew that he was capable of another emotion, besides guilt, sadness and anger.
**************************
Harry had started to speak more. Hermione saw it as progress. Ron saw it as a step back. On their way to Potions, Ron was trying to convince her why it was a regress, "Look at him! Almost everything he says is negative. He speaks in that sneering angry voice or that empty sad one!" Hermione still wasn't convinced, "I know, Ron, but at least he's talking more instead of sitting there like a fricking stunned mullet!" Ron rolled his eyes at her, "Sure, Hermione, Sure. God, I hope Professor Snape is still on holidays or where ever he went. It's been great having Mrs Tiller teaching us, she's a great teacher!" "You just like her cause she's pretty!" Hermione retorted. Grinning, Ron agreed as they walked up to join the other students.
Behind them, Harry was speaking to Seamus who had politely asked him what he had after lunch. Harry shrugged and said sadly, "Probably something really boring, like 'Care of Magical Creatures.' Seamus lowered his eyes oppressively and said quietly, "I thought you loved that." Harry turned, now angry, "Yeah, I used too. When we had a great teacher."
The Gryffindor's and Slytherin's entered the dark dungeon, talking quietly. Half the class frowned immediately while the other half grinned widely at the site in front of them. Professor Snape was waiting at the front of the classroom. "Take your seats! Hurry up!" he yelled.
Quickly, everybody took their seats, Harry sat on his own at the back and Seamus wandered over, on seeing he was alone. Professor Snape observed the interesting seat plan and commented on it to his favourite students, the front row Slytherin's. "Well, well. Our favourite threesome have finally broken up. How sad." He spoke in a stage whisper and grinned maliciously at the class. Ron and Hermione head's just drooped lower, even more miserable. Harry completely ignored him and looked away. Professor Snape looked quite grumpy at his unenthusiastic response and proceeded to take his anger out on Neville for moving about in his seat too noisily.
At the back of the classroom, Seamus was trying to talk to Harry. "But Harry, you can still enjoy 'Care of Magical Creatures' class even without...even without Hagrid." Harry's eyes glazed over at the mention of Hagrid's name and he fidgeted with his wand. Seamus continued, "Hagrid is dead. You just have to accept that. It wasn't your fault, Harry. These things just sometimes happen."
Harry cringed at Seamus's words and resisted the urge to jump on him and throttle him to death, just so he would stop talking. Seamus was oblivious to Harry's discomfort and continued on. "Really, Harry. I know you miss Hagrid but you have to move on."
Harry hated hearing Hagrid's name. He hated hearing Seamus talk. He didn't want to hear any noise! He wanted silence, he wanted quiet! Abruptly, Harry stood, throwing his chair backwards with such force that a mirror on the wall fell and cracked. "Shut up! Would you all just shut up!" he yelled
Professor Snape was furious. His face was bright purple and he shouted, "Harry Potter! Sit back down right now or I will ensure your punishment will be worse than death!" Harry laughed sarcastically, "That's a funny one Snape! Worse than death! Death would be a pleasure to me! I wish someone would just kill me now!"
The class was dead quiet as Harry stormed out of the dungeon. All that could be heard was Professor Snape ragged breathing until Hermione and Ron stood and pleaded to be allowed to go after Harry.
Professor Snape gave a weak nod and the pair zoomed out of the classroom to find Harry.
**************************
**************************
Harry never waited for Ron and Hermione to go to breakfast or classes. He always just headed off by himself and later they would follow. Hermione, on seeing that Harry wasn't going to offer Ron or her a seat next to him, decided that they would just go and plonk themselves next to him. The first day they did this, Harry didn't show any emotion, he didn't move away, he just sat quietly and stared ahead. So Ron and Hermione continued to sit next to or near him. After, a few weeks, Ron didn't think they should bother to make the effort to sit next to him but Hermione thought it was important to continue their strange ritual. Even though he didn't talk, Hermione still enjoyed the times where Harry was with them. If not in spirit, at least in body.
Sometimes, Hermione and Harry would lock eyes and although it pained her to see what was in his eyes, she loved the fact that he would still look at her. She found hope deep in his hard, green eyes. The eyes, that used to twinkle and glow, lightening up an entire room. The eyes that were now were sunken into his pale face. Even the colour seemed to have faded. Faded with the death, anger and sadness that he'd been through. She longed to free him from his cage of misery, unlock his heart which had been bolted shut with a huge metal padlock. The only way his eyes would twinkle again would be to unlock his heart again. Hermione was determined to do just that.
One morning, Ron and Hermione and the other Gryffindors were talking over breakfast when all of a sudden, Neville came bounding in. He was running as fast as his short, pudgy legs would carry him. Dean called out as he sped past their table, "Whose chasing ya Neville?" Neville didn't answer just pointed behind him, to the Great Hall doors. Their question was soon answered when Lavender, another Gryffindor, came running in yelling a string of obscenities all attached with Neville's name. Hearing her, Neville's face contorted into a look of absolute horror. She continued chasing him and soon the gap between them began to close. They raced around the Great Hall, to the cheering and yelling of all the Hogwart's students before Neville ducked back through the entrance doors again. Furious, Lavender followed and the next sound they heard was Lavender hexing a terrified Neville. The Great Hall burst into laughter and happy talking began as everyone tried to work out what Neville had done.
Ron was grinning ear to ear, Seamus and Dean were holding on to each other to try and stay on their seats they were laughing so hard and Hermione was giggling into her hand. Just as Hermione turned in the direction of Harry, she saw a tiny smile flicker across his face. She bent close and whispered quietly in his ear, "It is okay to laugh, you know." He looked shocked and then suddenly shot up from his seat and walked away. She stared longingly after him, now frowning. She was glad she had caught his small smile and she was glad she had spoken to him. At least she knew that he was capable of another emotion, besides guilt, sadness and anger.
**************************
Harry had started to speak more. Hermione saw it as progress. Ron saw it as a step back. On their way to Potions, Ron was trying to convince her why it was a regress, "Look at him! Almost everything he says is negative. He speaks in that sneering angry voice or that empty sad one!" Hermione still wasn't convinced, "I know, Ron, but at least he's talking more instead of sitting there like a fricking stunned mullet!" Ron rolled his eyes at her, "Sure, Hermione, Sure. God, I hope Professor Snape is still on holidays or where ever he went. It's been great having Mrs Tiller teaching us, she's a great teacher!" "You just like her cause she's pretty!" Hermione retorted. Grinning, Ron agreed as they walked up to join the other students.
Behind them, Harry was speaking to Seamus who had politely asked him what he had after lunch. Harry shrugged and said sadly, "Probably something really boring, like 'Care of Magical Creatures.' Seamus lowered his eyes oppressively and said quietly, "I thought you loved that." Harry turned, now angry, "Yeah, I used too. When we had a great teacher."
The Gryffindor's and Slytherin's entered the dark dungeon, talking quietly. Half the class frowned immediately while the other half grinned widely at the site in front of them. Professor Snape was waiting at the front of the classroom. "Take your seats! Hurry up!" he yelled.
Quickly, everybody took their seats, Harry sat on his own at the back and Seamus wandered over, on seeing he was alone. Professor Snape observed the interesting seat plan and commented on it to his favourite students, the front row Slytherin's. "Well, well. Our favourite threesome have finally broken up. How sad." He spoke in a stage whisper and grinned maliciously at the class. Ron and Hermione head's just drooped lower, even more miserable. Harry completely ignored him and looked away. Professor Snape looked quite grumpy at his unenthusiastic response and proceeded to take his anger out on Neville for moving about in his seat too noisily.
At the back of the classroom, Seamus was trying to talk to Harry. "But Harry, you can still enjoy 'Care of Magical Creatures' class even without...even without Hagrid." Harry's eyes glazed over at the mention of Hagrid's name and he fidgeted with his wand. Seamus continued, "Hagrid is dead. You just have to accept that. It wasn't your fault, Harry. These things just sometimes happen."
Harry cringed at Seamus's words and resisted the urge to jump on him and throttle him to death, just so he would stop talking. Seamus was oblivious to Harry's discomfort and continued on. "Really, Harry. I know you miss Hagrid but you have to move on."
Harry hated hearing Hagrid's name. He hated hearing Seamus talk. He didn't want to hear any noise! He wanted silence, he wanted quiet! Abruptly, Harry stood, throwing his chair backwards with such force that a mirror on the wall fell and cracked. "Shut up! Would you all just shut up!" he yelled
Professor Snape was furious. His face was bright purple and he shouted, "Harry Potter! Sit back down right now or I will ensure your punishment will be worse than death!" Harry laughed sarcastically, "That's a funny one Snape! Worse than death! Death would be a pleasure to me! I wish someone would just kill me now!"
The class was dead quiet as Harry stormed out of the dungeon. All that could be heard was Professor Snape ragged breathing until Hermione and Ron stood and pleaded to be allowed to go after Harry.
Professor Snape gave a weak nod and the pair zoomed out of the classroom to find Harry.
**************************