Chapter 11/

Without a sound the handsome black hawk had transformed into a not so handsome man. His hair was a mess, his robes were ragged and his face was twisted with fury. He stormed into the living room yelling incoherently.

"Aaarrrhg!" he yelled as he punched the stone wall. He heard several bones crack but paid them no mind. He was too angry to feel the pain. "How could she! Uuurrrgh! Accio table!" The large wooden and glass table in the middle of the living room went flying in his direction. He ducked just in time and the table smashed and shattered into tiny pieces against the cold, stone wall. Glass went everywhere, cutting the back of his head as he stood there panting with fury.

"That, that…bitch!" he yelled as he pointed his wand at the couch causing great gashes to appear on the cushions. The stuffing now littered the rug. He stalked over to a partially severed cushion and began tearing it to pieces. Slowly, his anger started to ebb away and it was replaced by sadness. He sank down onto the floor next to the ruined couch and began to cry silent tears. He thought he would never stop. He wrapped his arms around his bent knees and mumbled to himself. He strongly resembled a small child.

"How could she? How could she betray me this way, just like her? Why does she have to be like her? And him, of all people why him? She'll pay for this. She has to." The sadness had now left him completely and it was replaced by the purest rage. His tone of voice was so cold and unforgiving; he could have frozen the largest lake. He got up and angrily wiped the tears that were still falling freely. "I won't suffer anymore because of them." He walked over to the kitchen and stood in front of a locked cupboard. Small carvings could be seen on the lower right hand corner of one of the doors. He wiped the dust that had accumulated over the years and the carvings read: Dark Potions Ingredients. "If she wants to stay at that old fool's school, I'll give her a good reason to stay. She'll be too hurt to travel," he said as a wicked grin played across his face. With that, he unlocked the cupboard and began pulling out ingredients.

He woke up slowly expecting to hear the soft breathing of his roommates, or in Ron's case, loud snoring. When he didn't he thought, 'Where am I?' Then it came back to him. He turned his head and saw that Pansy was asleep next to him. He had his arm around her shoulders and her head lay peacefully on his chest. His robes felt a little damp on his chest and he realized that Pansy must have cried herself to sleep.

He never thought he could hate someone he had never met before, but then he thought of her father and he was sure that he hated him. He couldn't imagine how any parent could put their child through so much pain and misery. Very slowly he took his arm from around her shoulders and made to get off the bed. He gently laid her head back on the pillow and gave her hand a small squeeze before saying "sleep tight" and leaving the hospital wing.

He walked cautiously, not wanting to get caught out of bed so early by a teacher, or by Filch. He looked down at the floor as he walked while the night before kept replaying in his head. He had expected to find Pansy sleeping peacefully but instead she was having a nightmare. When she started shaking like she was having a seizure, Harry thought he would be sick. If Ron and Hermione had seen her like that they would understand how he felt. He felt bad for her. He realized that they have a lot of bad things in common. But did he feel more than pity? Or did he just want someone to talk to who would understand? Ron and Hermione certainly did not understand everything he had been through. They had both grown up with so much love in their lives, how could they possibly relate. His train of thought was broken as he walked right into someone. It was Dumbledore.

"Harry, what are you doing out of bed so early and on vacation?" he asked with that familiar twinkle in his eyes.

"I, um, went to go visit Pansy," Harry lied quickly.

"I see. Yes, I heard about Miss Parkinson's accident. I was actually going to see her myself."

"She's sleeping."

"As you should be," said Dumbledore smiling at Harry. "I was going to write a letter to her parents today informing them of the accident."

"No!" said Harry panicking slightly.

"And why not?" he said surveying Harry through his half-mooned spectacles. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"

Harry thought for a moment about whether or not to tell him, and then he decided that if he couldn't trust Dumbledore, he couldn't trust anyone. He sighed and said, "Can we go to your office instead. I don't want anyone to hear." The headmaster nodded.

In no time they were at the stone gargoyle. Dumbledore said the password "toffee" and they began the ascent up the spiral staircase. Once in the office Dumbledore sat down and motioned to Harry to do the same. He took a deep breath and told him everything. He started with the "dream", he talked about the potion, and he ended with last night. Dumbledore listened carefully; only nodding occasionally. When Harry was finished, Dumbledore finally spoke.

"Well, in light of these new circumstances I will not contact her father. Her mother, however, is a different story. Do you know anything about her?"

Harry shook his head. He realized that he hadn't even thought of Pansy's mother. He felt mortified by the possible thought that Pansy's mother knew what was happening and did nothing. 'Maybe she doesn't know,' he thought. He resolved to find out.

"Harry, I will please ask you to keep an eye on Miss Parkinson to make sure she doesn't do anything rash."

"You mean like throw herself off another broom," Harry added grimly.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I believe that you are her only real friend. Now, I will be informing the other professors that Mr. Parkinson is not to be allowed in this school. Don't worry," he added seeing the look of apprehension on Harry's face, "I will not tell them why. They trust me enough to do as I say, no questions asked." Harry nodded. "Now, you will need to get some sleep if you are to wake up nice and early tomorrow to open all of your presents," said the headmaster, his cheerful demeanor back in place.

Harry nodded and got up from his chair. Before he left the office he said, "Thank you for listening, Professor." As Harry walked back to the common room he was thankful that it was vacation and he had no classes to worry about for a while. He didn't bother putting on his pajamas and went straight to bed and fell asleep.

Dumbledore sat and pondered for a moment after Harry had left. Then he voiced his theory out loud. "Those two need each other."

She woke slowly. It took her a while to get used to the bright sun. She looked around to see all of the empty beds. She remembered what had happened the night before. 'He must have left when I fell asleep.'

Just then Madame Pomfrey came bustling in. "Well, good morning dear. It's good to see you wide awake." Pansy gave a feeble smile. It was too early for all of her cheerfulness. "Now let me look at you." The nurse checked all of Pansy's injuries and seemed to be satisfied. "All of your bruises have healed up nicely. If you can keep down your breakfast you can go back to your room today." Madame Pomfrey left and came back with a tray full of toast, scrambled eggs, and pumpkin juice. There was no way that she was that hungry but she really wanted to get out of the hospital.

While the nurse went back to her office, Pansy ate as much as she could until she thought she would throw up, then she magicked the rest away. When the nurse came back she was very pleased indeed. "Oh dear, you must have been famished. Well, I suppose you can go now."

"What time is it?" Pansy asked.

"It's noon. A little late for breakfast, I know, but it's the most important meal of the day." She closed the curtain around Pansy's bed to allow her to put her robes back on. "Make sure you eat a good lunch and a full dinner. It will help you get your strength back."

"Okay," said Pansy pulling aside the curtain.

"And one more thing," said the nurse, cheeriness now gone from her voice, "no more flying for you, for a long while, understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am," and with that she left.

As she walked she thought about her dream. 'That won't happen. Harry won't let it.'

'Oh, its Harry now is it? What happened to Potter? Don't you think he has better things to do than worry about you,' a little nagging voice interrupted her thoughts.

'He's my friend.'

'Are you sure? What makes you think he isn't laughing at you behind your back with his real friends right now?' The voice would not stop.

"He isn't," she said out loud. "He isn't."

Pansy decided to follow the nurse's advice and eat some lunch. When she entered the Hall it wasn't nearly as full as it usually was. A lot of people had gone home to be with their families. This, of course saddened Pansy, but she didn't let it get to her. She sat down at the Slytherin table and started eating.

Harry's growling stomach woke him around midday. He got up and looked around. Seamus, Neville and Dean had all gone home for the holidays, so it was just him and Ron. Neither of them were too happy about this. At the moment, Ron was not there either. Harry decided to go eat lunch.

He walked into the hall expecting to see Ron and Hermione at their table waiting for him. Gryffindor table, however, was virtually empty. The only people there were some first and second years that he didn't really know. 'They must have wanted some time alone. So what else is new?' He sat down anyway and started eating.

Pansy saw him come in from across the hall. She saw the disappointed look on his face when he didn't find his friends there. She remembered seeing them outside when she passed a window. She decided to talk to him.

He saw her crossing the hall but he never thought that it would be to talk to him. When she sat down next to him the other Gryffindors eyed her suspiciously.

"Hi," she said.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I fell off a broom. You?"

"Like I haven't eaten in a month."

They ate silently side by side. Suddenly they heard a commotion outside of the hall. They could make out yelling but they couldn't tell who the voices belonged to. What they could tell was that whoever they belonged to they were extremely angry.

As the voices got closer and closer to the hall, they could make out McGonagall's furious voice. "You must leave the premises immediately! The headmaster has issued orders that you not be allowed in this school! We will use force if necessary!"

"I have the right to see my own daughter! Pansy, are you in there?!"

Harry looked at Pansy; she had visibly paled. She looked as if she would be sick. The fear in her eyes was immeasurable.

"Severus, summon the headmaster at once," said McGonagall.

Suddenly the doors burst open. A ragged looking wizard came storming through. His eyes locked with Pansy's. Pansy was as stiff as a board and looked too afraid to move.

"Get up Pansy," Harry said pulling Pansy up. He thought they would have to make a run for it.

Then her father spoke in what was a falsely sweet voice. Harry was forcibly reminded of Professor Umbridge. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get out of here. I can give you your present when we get home."

"Mr. Parkinson, I am warning you," said McGonagall in a stern voice.

Pansy shook her head. She was shaking. She couldn't believe this was happening. Not here, where she thought she was safe.

Her father dropped his false voice in an instant. "I said get over here. NOW!"

"NO!" Harry yelled stepping in front of Pansy.

"You, boy, need to be taught a lesson." Before he could even pull out his wand, Professor McGonagall had yelled "Stupefy" and a jet of red light had hit him in the back and he crumpled down on the floor.

Just then Professor Snape came in with Dumbledore. "I had to stun him, Albus. He threatened them both."

Dumbledore surveyed the wizard at his feet with utmost dislike. "Severus, please escort Mr. Parkinson back to Hogsmeade Station and make sure he gets on the next train home."

Snape nodded and conjured a stretcher. He floated Pansy's father onto it and they left the hall.

Dumbledore walked over to Pansy and Harry. Pansy was visibly in shock. "Listen to me Miss Parkinson, your father will not harm you anymore," he whispered. "Would you like me to inform your mother about these events."

"I-I don't know where she is. She left us over the summer." Silent tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"Very well, go up to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey can give you a calming potion. You will be in fine shape for Christmas," he added with a small smile.

Pansy almost felt relieved. Dumbledore would certainly protect her. And now that they knew how crazy her father was, they won't let him anywhere near her. But that made Pansy wonder, 'Dumbledore must have told the other professors not to let him in, but why? Unless…he told Dumbledore.' Pansy looked over at Harry. He knew what she was thinking.

"I'm sorry, Pansy. I had to tell someone. Now he can't hurt you anymore." Harry thought Pansy would be furious with him. Instead she through her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Ron and Hermione had seen the whole thing. Now they knew.