Harry stared up at Hogwarts, as Guns N Roses blasted through his skull. All the other students had gotten to the school ahead of him, and the sorting ceremony was already underway. He could hear the muted song of the Sorting Hat underneath the roar of his music.
Welcome to the jungle
We've got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Harry lit up another Lucky Strike and walked up to the doors. He rested his head against the massive doors, feeling the cold seep into his brain. He took a drag and opened them.
Whatever you may need
If you got the money, honey
We got your disease
He entered Great Hall and the room hushed. Even the Sorting Hat was silent, pausing in the middle of shouting "Gryffindor". All eyes turned to him. Harry took a last drag on his cigarette, butted it, and made his way to the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore looked at him a second over his spectacles, then made a slight gesture, indicating to the Hat to proceed.
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
knees, knees
I wanna watch you bleed
Harry ignored everyone as Dumbledore spoke a few words, the usual speech. Food appeared on the table and everyone dug in like a starving dog, except Harry and Hermione. Harry slowly filled his plate and sat eating slowly, while Hermione watched him sadly.
Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed
But it's the price you pay
Seamus poked Harry and gestured towards the Teacher's table. Dumbledore motioned Harry over. Harry got up, ripped off his headphones, and slowly walked over to Dumbledore. Dumbledore got up and Harry followed him. He followed the Headmaster to his office. Harry lit up another cigarette while Dumbledore walked around his desk and sat down. The pictures on the wall all started to whisper to each other. Harry could hear snippets of the gossip.
"That boy is smoking!"
"I bet Dumbledore is going to expel him…"
"Isn't that Potter?"
"He was such a nice boy…I wonder what happened…?"
Dumbledore looked around at them and they immediately hushed. He seemed to start to speak, then stopped and folded his hands together on the desk. He tried again.
"Harry, as you know, you have been made a prefect this year…that means you will have your own room."
Harry nodded, and took a drag.
"I made you a prefect in name only…you don't have to do any of the prefect's duties if you do not wish too, but I thought that in light of the events that happened last year, that you would feel more comfortable if you had your own room," he explained.
Harry nodded again, taking another drag.
"Well, I will let you go…" he trailed off.
Harry got up to leave, but was interrupted by Dumbledore's voice.
"Harry, if you need someone to talk to…you know I'm always here…"
Harry looked at him and smiled bitterly, then wordlessly left the room. Dumbledore stared at the door for a long time, finally shaking his head.
"What have I done…?" he murmured.
Harry made his way to his room and locked the door. He opened his trunk and took out his bong, Gravitron. He loaded a bowl and started smoking. After he cashed it, he began to unpack. The first thing he did was set up his stereo. He loaded in a couple cds and hit shuffle. As the first chords of a Misfits song started pounding, Harry took out the couch he had shrunk and turned it back to normal. He plopped down and opened up his Advanced Transfiguration book and started reading.
1, 2, 3, 4
Singled out the kids who are mean to me
Get straight A's but they still make fun
I don't give a..., I'll laugh last
He didn't look up as someone pounded on his door, nor at Hermione's tearful words yelled through the door. Harry turned to the chapter on Animagi and started reading.
Stayed in every night
Do my homework so I'll be smart
Girls all say I'm a little fucked
Harry smiled at the lengthy instructions for becoming an Animagus.
"This is going to be easier than I thought…" he said to himself.
Harry got up to grab a cigarette then engrossed himself in his reading once more.
Mommy I'm a good boy
Mommy I'm a fuckin' savior
Mommy I'm alive
As the Misfits pounded in Harry's room, it spread through the walls to engulf the common room. Hermione collapsed into a chair next to Ron and started crying. He looked over at her.
Mommy, can I go out and kill tonight
Rip the veins from human necks
Until they're wet with life
Razor-blades love teenage flesh
An epidermoty
I'll bring back a souvenir
For it's my mommy's dream
"Hermione, he'll come around when he wants too. He always does, just leave him alone for a while," Ron stated.
"Maybe your content with letting him be this way, Ronald Weasly, but I am not! I will not let him be this way to us! I lo- he's my best friend too!" she sobbed.
Ron looked at her strangely, and said, "What did you say? Did you say that you loved him? Hermione, if you love him, then you should leave him alone all the more. If you really loved him, you wouldn't try to change him into the person you want and remember. You either will love him the way he is now and support him in whatever decision he makes…not try to change him to what YOU want!"
Ron got up and walked towards the stairs. Ginny met him there. She looked at Ron, and said, "Want to go talk to Harry with me?"
"Nah, Ginny, you stay here, I'm going to go talk to him.'
She nodded, "Ok, but tell him that I want to talk to him later, ok?"
Ron nodded and started to climb the stairs.
Meanwhile, back into the common room, Hermione, her tears dried, stared into the flames. She would not move for the next few hours.
Can I go out and kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight, kill tonight
Kill tonight, kill tonight?
