Chapter 2: Healing Harry Potter

I was awoken at the crack of dawn by the sun shining through my window and hitting me on my face. I would never be able to get back to sleep now. But to my surprise the smell of Mothers cooking was already wafting through the house. The smells of Bacon, egg, sausage and even bread were very predominant. The only other times I had known of mother to be up and cooking this early was when there was something terrible about to happen.

I looked down onto Harry, laying there asleep, not knowing that people were already starting to wake up. No doubt he was still exhausted from the games of Quidditch played the day before. He looked so innocent; he even looked as though he were just your everyday fifteen year old. But he wasn't. He had been forced to mature along time before anyone should. Sure he could have fun, but everything he did, immature or not, was done through maturity. We had broken many rules over our last four years at Hogwarts, and every one of them were broken out of concern for some one or to save the school. But as he lay there sleeping it had all gone away, he was innocent and he was beautiful.

As I got dressed I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I couldn't stop thinking of what nightmare he was having or if he was for once in his life dreaming of something happy. With one last look at him I started making my way down stairs. I was surprised that no one had woken Harry, or me because they were all already sitting around the table eating breakfast. Everyone was up at the crack of dawn, even the twins, now that is a shock.

"Well it's about time you woke up. Could you go get Harry, were leaving in an hour."

"But mum. It's the crack of dawn."

"The train is leaving early this year Ronald. Dumbledore wants all teachers and students at the castle before nightfall. Now go wake Harry." She knows I hate anyone using my full name, even if it is just my first. But I said nothing and made my way backup stairs to find Harry turning in his sleep with a frustrated look on his face and he was moaning "No". I didn't know weather it was a bad thing to wake someone prematurely from a nightmare, so I took a gamble and began to wake him.

'"Harry." Gently shaking his arm. "Harry, we are going early, wake up." I shook his arm gently again and his eyes darted open as he bolted upright as though he were laying on a bed of nails. The next thing I knew my shoulder was wet from his tears and his arms were around me and they weren't letting go.

I comforted him for the third time in two days and helped him get his stuff down to the car while mother stuffed food into our hands. He was quiet all the way to the station were dad rushed to get us some trolleys. We made it onto platform nine and three quarters by eight thirty five, twenty-five minutes before the train would be leaving which was two hours before the Hogwarts express normally left.

"Hello Hermione. How was your last few days of holidays?" Hermione spun around to face me and gave me such a huge hug that I thought my ribs were going to break and then I realized that she was crying. Why did both of my friends decide that I was the comforter of the group all of a sudden? Why did they cry on my shoulder? I didn't voice any of this, I knew all she would want to do was cry. Why I don't know, but I could tell she was deeply hurt.

"Vic.. Victor. HE DUMPED ME! AS THOUGH I WAS JUST SOME TOY HE WAS BORED WITH! Why Ron? Why?" I felt so horrible just because I had used such a cheery voice to greet her when she was so obviously upset. How could he dump her like that? She had just spent the bloody summer with the guy in a foreign country.

"Because he likes to use his fame to attract attention. And you didn't seem the type that went after him so he used you to show he could, get anyone. He. He told me before he left the Leaky Cauldron on Friday." I could imagine what my face looked like and that was nothing to what Hermione's was like, she looked murderous, Harry had know and he didn't tell Hermione or even me. We were both shocked.

"Harry? How could you? How could you keep this from me?" Her voice completely void of anything but anger. Normally someone stood in between me and someone else but this time, before I knew it, I found my self standing between Harry and Hermione. The two who normally had to stop me.

"I didn't have time, you were going, and he promised he would." Harry looked down at his shoes as though they were suddenly interesting. "He promised he would do it as soon as you two got out of the fire place." Slap. Hermione had slapped Harry. His face still red he just looked at her and started to get on the train.

Hermione and I followed Harry onto the train as quiet as mice. Harry was sitting next to the window staring at nothing or perhaps everything in general and didn't even acknowledge our presence. Hermione made it obvious she wasn't happy with him by sitting as far a way as she could. The tension in the compartment was so thick I could have used a severing charm to slice it. We all waved good-bye to my family and the Grangers as the train started to pull away. With Muggle houses speeding by I decided I couldn't take their silence anymore.

"Hermione. Harry didn't realize he was hurting you. He assumed that you would know with in a few moments. He probably thought that Krum just needed to tell some one. Not to mention he was probably scared Harry would kill him. Herm you have to see it from Harry's point of view. And I'm sorry Harry but you really should have told her." A long tense silence filled the compartment. I hoped I had addressed the reasons they weren't talking to each other diplomatically. I didn't want to start another argument between them and I definitely didn't want to hurt Harry, had already been hurting enough since the third task only months before.

"I'm sorry Herm'. I should have told you. I hope you will forgive me. I feel so guilty." Damn it Hermione. He already feels guilty about everything else.

"Oh Harry! You know I can't stay mad at you for too long. And don't feel guilty, it isn't your fault. It's Victors." Enveloped in to a tight hug I could hear his sobs and see the shaking of his shoulders. I moved closer to them and put my hand on his shoulder for comfort and with that I was enveloped into the little hug orgy. I felt so selfish, having him that close I just wanted to tell Hermione to piss off and leave us alone so as I could have him all to myself. But he needed both of us. He needed to feel as though he wasn't alone, or guilty.

"Oh, look. It's Potty and the Weasel. And their body guard. How touching, excuse me while I go throw up!" Bloody Malfoy. The last thing Harry needs, and even Hermione.

"Shove off Malfoy! Or you will be the one who needs a body guard!"

"What's going on here? Mr. Malfoy you will put down your wand and return to your compartment. Ron, go sit down." Professor Lupin came over from the compartment opposite where he had been sleeping and now had his wand pointed at Malfoy. Malfoy looked at Lupin disapprovingly and nodded his head sideways for his cronies to follow.

"Professor Lupin. Thank you. He was almost as annoying as always. What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Started Hermione in her matter-of-fact voice "He's continuing as Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."

"You right as always Hermione. Except this year my pet dog Snuffles will be helping me."

"Snuffles? He's here? He's going to be here all year?" Harry's voice was bordering on happiness and anger. I suppose he was worried that he would be found out and taken away again, I don't blame him, Sirius is the only family he really has, unless you count those Muggles he lives with.

"Yes Harry. He is here on Dumbledore's request. As am I." A smile flickered on both his and Harry's face as a large black dog entered. Harry had thrown his arms around the dog's neck instantly as Hermione and I patted him. Sirius let out a loud bark that I could only guess was supposed to mean that he liked the attention and that he was glad to be back.

The rest of the trip was spent talking about Quidditch and who the prefects were and who the new captain and keeper would be. Harry brought some pumpkin juice and cauldron cakes for everyone for lunch. We were only half an hour away from Hogwarts when the subject finally changed to the summer. A subject that I had wanted to talk to them about first, with out Harry hearing. I wanted to warn them that Harry was feeling guilty about the death of Cedric and the rise of Voldermort.

"How was your summer Harry?" Harry's face dropped from smiles and laughter to a brief frown but I seemed to be the only one to notice. His smile spread back across his face instantly, but it was forced, I could tell.

"It was ok. The Dursleys didn't treat me as bad as they usually do, instead they actually treated me ok. And then I spent the last week of the summer with Ron." Maybe it was my imagination but I thought he sound as though he was trying to convince himself. And it would be just like Harry to try and cover up what actually happened. He doesn't like anyone fussing over him.

"How about you Professor Lupin?" Asked Hermione.

"Well, where to start. Snuffles arrived at my house a day after the third task of the Tri-Wizard tournament, sorry I missed it Harry and I'm sorry about what happened too, and told me everything that he knew about what had happened. We spent the rest of the summer talking to old friends and some people I would normally avoid. And then we got an urgent owl from Dumbledore asking me to revise my position as DADA teacher. Of course he suggested that my dog might enjoy Hogwarts as there would be a certain person that would love to keep him company. So here we are."

"You Hermione?" Hermione told Lupin and Sirius about here wonderful holiday in Bulgaria with Krum and how he broke up with her earlier that day. Sirius gave his sympathy by resting his head on her lap and looking at her with puppy dog eyes, trying his hardest to look cute, but it is hard for a black dog that is almost as tall as Harry to look cute.

The train began slowing down and we could see the Hogsmede station slowly coming to rest outside the train. It was still daylight and it felt weird to be arriving at this time of day. We had managed to find a compartment at the front of the train this year and Hagrid was right outside our window calling for the first years to follow him. We ran out of the train to greet Hagrid but had already started walking towards the lake, about fifty first years following him timidly.

"Just our luck. Hagrid didn't seem to take things as slow as usual did he? Hermione seemed put out, but we all seemed to brush it off, except Hermione. "I mean he normally waits to see if we are ok or something."

"Hermione, I'm sure he must have a reason to be in a hurry. Don't take it personally." But even as I said it I knew she would. Both her and Harry. They both needed someone to ask them if everything was ok. I wasn't what they needed. I was there all the time. They wanted someone who didn't know them to notice that they weren't ok. Hermione might admit to some of it but Harry wouldn't. Harry would insist he was ok and that there was nothing to worry about. Harry was always strong like that; he never let anyone know that there was something wrong. But I knew him better than that, I knew that inside he was dying or wishing it could have been him that Voldermort had killed that night.

I didn't pay much notice to the carriage ride to the castle. I was to absorbed in Harry and Hermione's states of mind that I lost myself to my thoughts. The oak front doors loomed before us, and stationed on either side were two wizards in green cloaks that covered their faces, wands in hand and they looked as though they were searching the crowed. The Great Hall was the same as always, although I couldn't help but notice that the majority of the teaches had their wands out and looked quiet nervous about something.

"What's with all these extra security measures? I mean Aurors at the door, teachers walking around holding their wands waiting to use them? What is hap..." Hermione stopped mid sentence with an expression of realization sweeping over her face as she noticed that Sirius sat behind were Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table, sitting with his eyes watching what seemed to be everything. He was acting like one of those muggle guard dogs do as though he was protecting something, and then it dawned on me. I had been so blind. All the extra security was because Voldermort had risen just over two months ago. And Sirius was obviously here to protect Harry. I'm sure he would protect us to, but Harry had to be his main concern, and I agreed although he could have done with someone helping him mentally and emotionally.

The feast passed without incident, that is if you don't include Harry's eyes looking as though they were empty, like that day at the Burrow. Perhaps it was happening more often than I thought. As we all got up to head for Gryffindor Tower I pulled Hermione to warn her about Harry.

"Herm', Harry needs our help." Perhaps I shouldn't have said it like that.

"He has all the help he needs. Besides it is only start of year, no one usually tries to kill us until a few weeks in." I will never understand how she can talk about death as though it is nothing, just another thing to live with.

"That came out wrong. Hermione, Harry is blaming himself for everything. And I mean everything. He needs us. Did you notice his eyes at dinner they looked empty. They looked. dead." Hermione's jaw had dropped. Maybe she had just realized that I paid too much attention to Harry.

"Ron, I blamed him for not telling me about Victor. I am such an idiot." Her jaw was still an inch lower than normal as we caught up with Harry but a jab in the ribs with my elbow caught it before Harry's eyes did.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Harry's eyes looked as dead as ever over the next few days. He had barely eaten, or even slept. At night he would just lay there looking up at the canopy of his bed lost, in deep thought. I wanted so much to know what was hurting him, although I probably already knew, it just seemed that if I could ask him and get him to talk to me about it, it would all be ok. But he didn't seem to want to do anything except think. Some times it is better to think about a problem your self. So I left him be, he would talk to me about it when he was ready.

The moon made his slender body look twice as thin in it's dim light. And the bags under his eyes looked a thousand times worse. He looked as though one good gust of wind would blow him away. Someone needed to do something about this. He wasn't looking after himself, someone needed to make sure that something was done. Tomorrow I would gather the rest of our dorm and Hermione and we would all go to see Dumbledore. He would do something.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

"Really sir. He has barely eaten for days. He does everything haphazardly." I knew Seamus had noticed that.

"He most definitely hasn't been doing to well in class Albus." Some brainy know-it-all had decided that McGonagall had noticed as well and that she would be an excellent way of getting our point across. Hermione really does know how to play people.

Dumbledore was letting us prove our selves without any interruptions, his head hung in his hands. "I see your points. Harry is obviously in depression. He seems to think that he is the cause of every negative thing that happens, has happened and will happen. He needs help, form you all. I will talk to his other teachers and request they lay off him a little. It is time we begin, healing Harry Potter." The tone of his voice suggested action. Finally we might get the Harry we all know and love back.