"Ah, Weasley, glad you finally turned up," Madam Hooch greeted Ron in her sharp efficient voice.

Ron felt very strange walking into her office, as he had vivid memories of confronting Professor McGonagall in the same room. Madam Hooch had been appointed as the new Head of Gryffindor when McGonagall was killed.

As a result, the walls, which had once been covered with intricate diagrams detailing dangerous transformations, were now covered with British Quidditch posters and black-and-white photographs featuring a grinning young witch on her father's lap (on a broomstick), on a toy broomstick, on her first racing broom, flying in a Hogwarts match, and with her Welsh team mates in the World Cup.

The shelves that had once been filled with neatly organised rows of thick books were now overflowing with haphazardly arranged trophies and flying paraphernalia, as well as a couple of manuals with such titles as "How to Perfect Wronski Feints and Other Tricky Manoeuvres".

"You wanted to see me, Madam Hooch?"

"Yes Weasley, obviously. Have a seat. Oh, don't worry about those papers on the chair, just put them on he ground."

Ron shifted a pile of hastily written documents onto the floor beside him and settled into the chair.

"Now then." Madam Hooch's voice became a little less sharp. "Look, Weasley. I've noticed that you've been, well, pushing yourself pretty hard lately. Throwing yourself into training the team, just living and breathing Quidditch. Not that it's such a bad thing, mind you, goodness knows you're a fantastic captain, but...well, you're not giving yourself time for anything else."

Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "That's not quite-"

"Don't try to argue, Weasley. You know I'm right. You're not even getting any sleep!"

The colour in Ron's face deepened and he stood up quickly. "Madam Hooch, I know you're just trying to help, but don't pretend you know what I'm going through!"

Hooch was totally unfazed. "Sit down."

He did.

"You're right. I don't know what you're going through. But I see you, and Potter, and Granger, and I know that Hagrid's death was the thing that finally divided the three of you. I know that you're scared for Potter and Granger but you don't know how to help them. All you can do for now, Weasley, is keep an eye on Potter. He was your best mate once, and deep down he still is, believe it or not. Look after him, and look after yourself."

Ron looked at the woman. Her sharp amber eyes gazed straight back at him. He looked away for a few moments and swallowed hard.

"Yes Madam Hooch."

*

Three days later, Harry sat in the darkened rear corner of the Potions room. The lesson passed in a dull, almost slow-motion blur, frequently punctuated by Ron's concerned expressions, Snape's cynical comments and Hermione's anxious glances.

What the hell do they think is wrong with me? Always wrapping me up in bloody cottonwool, anyone would think I was still a baby. Why can't they leave me alone for a change? For Merlin's sake, I'm fine!

Harry glowered at his friends across the room.

"Mr Potter, are you now so renowned that you no longer have to conform to the same regulations as your classmates? Your O.W.L.s will not write themselves."

"Waste your time on someone who cares, you greasy..."

"What was that, Mr Potter? If you have something to say, surely the rest of the class would be fascinated to hear it."

Harry inconspicuously bit back an aggressive reply.

"Professor Snape, I was just observing that there are others who would much rather make use of your considerable teaching talents, which shouldn't be wasted on such undeserving students as myself," he sneered.

In a deadly quiet, threatening tone, Snape replied, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your insufferable cheek. Finish skinning your Mandrake shoots before I give you a week's worth of detention."

They glared into each other's eyes for what seemed like infinity. Finally Snape turned away. Harry glared at his back, absolute hate radiating from his vivid green eyes. If Snape was unnerved at all, he didn't show it.

Suddenly, a movement to Harry's right distracted him. Furious, he watched in silence as Draco leaned over Hermione's shoulder. Draco gently tilted Hermione's chin towards him and recoiled slightly as he saw the patch of bluish-black that had blossomed over her jaw line. He lightly stoked her face and looked deep into her eyes. Hermione blushed softly but turned her head away. Discouraged, Draco went back to his seat.

No one dared speak to Harry for the remainder of the lesson. He sat, every muscle taut, face like a thundercloud, teeth gritted, eyes like fire and ice combined. Several times out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Hermione looking at him in a faintly panicky way. Lying slut, she'll get what's coming to her.

Everyone was glad to escape the tension filled room when Snape dismissed them and marched out of the room. With painstaking deliberation, Harry packed his books and ingredients. Hermione and Ron edged nervously over to him.

"Um...are you coming?" Ron asked.

Without looking up, Harry replied evenly, "You two go on without me. I'll catch up to you later."

Hermione and Ron glanced at each other.

Harry sensed this and turned his eyes towards them. He smiled crookedly.

"I won't be long, okay? I'm fine, I don't need escorts all the time."

A little doubtfully, Hermione and Ron made their way out of the Potions room, glancing over their shoulders at Harry.

*

Hermione and Ron walked together down the hallway in complete silence, as they were inclined to do lately. However, all the years of friendship had bred within them an uncanny ability to know what the other was thinking. Not quite surprisingly, they were both thinking the same thing, Should we really have left Harry alone?

They were just about to follow the other Gryffindors up the stairs and out of the dungeons, when Hermione stopped.

Ron instantly read the fear on her face as a cold band of terror squeezed her heart.

"Harry."

Ron nodded urgently. "I'll get Dumbledore!"

Hermione dropped her books, spun around and sprinted desperately back down the hallway.

*

Just to let any of my more loyal readers know, I'm not going to be able to update for a while since I am leaving on an exchange to Italy tomorrow.  Wish me luck and enjoy the holidays…