Harry threw open the Entrance Hall doors and stormed inside, Ethan right on his heels. Ethan could practically feel the waves of anger rolling off of the Boy-Who-Lived and could see the warped sense of reality clouding his vision. The Inflecto potion was working its dark magic on the young wizard, letting the seeds of suspicion that Ethan had planted, grow and become the only thought in his altered perception.
"Harry?"
Harry stopped with one foot on the bottom stair of the sweeping Hall staircase and turned around.
"Yes?"
"I'll see you later, okay?" Ethan fought to keep the glee from his voice.
"Yeah, sure..."
He watched as the tightly wound boy spun around and practically flew up the stairs on his way to the Gryffindor dorms. Ethan would've loved to see the scene that was about to take place in Harry's common room, but he knew it would be wise to stay away from his suspicious friends for awhile. He knew that Harry was a boy led by his emotions and feelings, something that the potion he had slipped him fed on.
Ethan turned and strolled off down the dungeon corridors. He came around one corner and saw Professor Snape exiting a classroom. He quickly ducked into an alcove and hid in the shadows as the tall man passed by. He stayed there until he was sure the potions professor was gone, then stepped out and dusted off his robes, before continuing on his way towards his dorm.
* * * * * * * * *
Harry spit out the password and squeezed through the portrait hole before it was even completely open. He glanced around the cozy room, his hands balled into fists at his sides, as he looked for Ron and Hermione. He spotted them chatting quietly by the blazing fire.
He strode over, not caring that the room was full of his fellow housemates, he was ready to burst from the festering anger flowing through his body.
"Harry," Ron greeted with a smile as he looked up.
Hermione's greeting died on her lips as she looked up at Harry towering over them.
"Did you sabotage my relationship with Draco on purpose?" he demanded, eyes flashing dangerously.
"What?" Ron asked, taken aback.
"I said, did you set out to destroy my relationship with Draco Malfoy on purpose?" he repeated icily.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked worriedly. His normally easy to read green eyes were almost black in colour as he glared at them.
"I'll tell you what's wrong!" Harry raged loudly, the chatter in the common room coming to an abrupt halt. "Two people, who I thought were my friends, went behind my back to get rid of the one person that's ever cared for me, just because they didn't approve of him."
"Harry, that's ridiculous," Hermione exclaimed.
"Is it?" Harry cried. "Tell me, how did you know where to find us that day?"
"We were sent a letter, mate," Ron answered, glancing at Hermione.
"How convenient," Harry spat sarcastically. "And tell me, why were Pansy and Blaise there?"
"They were sent one too."
"Don't lie to me!" Harry yelled. "I know it was you two who told them about us, I know you led them there on purpose. Who else would want to break us up? You found out about us and didn't want me forming a relationship with Malfoy. It tore you apart that we were becoming so close, didn't it? You both hated him from the start, admit it!"
Ron and Hermione stared in shock at their friend. Harry was shaking as he shouted at them, his cheeks turning red and his eyes gleaming with hatred.
"Harry, please...we would never do that," Hermione said, her mind desperately trying to figure out why he was acting so strangely.
"Stop lying!" Harry screamed.
Hermione flinched.
"That's enough!" Ron shouted, standing up. "You're scaring everyone. Why are you acting like this?"
"Because I've finally realized what kind of people you really are."
"Harry, we didn't do anything!" Ron shouted in a pleading sort of voice.
"It wasn't just you though, was it?" Harry went on in a deadly whisper, his eyes contracting slightly. "You were all in on it."
He turned around and pointed his finger at all the people gathered around the common room.
"You didn't want a Slytherin and a Gryffindor...or better yet, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy together, did you?"
Hermione rose to her feet and stared in open mouthed shock at this stranger who was acting paranoid and vindictive, and so different from the Harry she knew. Ron glanced at her helplessly, praying that Harry would come to his senses.
"Why don't we take a walk, Harry?" Ron suggested.
Harry whipped around again.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" he spat. "What are you planning next? To murder me and dump my body in the forest? You've always been jealous of me, Ron, you'd like to see me fall flat on my face, wouldn't you? I bet you loved that I was utterly humiliated by the entire school for getting caught sleeping with Draco Malfoy and then called a whore by that very same person that I thought loved me."
"Harry..." Ron whispered, hurt.
"You don't have the money to buy your fame, so you thought you'd just take mine away. You certainly won't get it by playing quidditch, you really are horrible at being keeper, Ron. I guess you thought you'd try and drag me down in your humiliation, too."
Ron pressed his lips together and refused to rise to whatever Harry was trying to get him to do.
"Harry-" Hermione started, placing a hand on his arm.
"Don't touch me, Mudblood!"
The entire room gasped and Hermione looked as if she'd been hit.
"Why you!" Ron growled. He lunged forward, but Hermione caught him and pulled him back.
"Who's making you act like this, Harry?" Hermione demanded. "It's Ethan isn't it?"
"No, I've just come to my senses," he smirked.
"Don't listen to him, Harry," she said. "Whatever poison he's been feeding you, just stop listening to him-"
"Oh, I see," Harry said, backing up a step. "Now you're out to take Ethan away from me, too? Well, it won't work. He won't ever break up with me, guess I ruined your fun. Does it piss you off that I'm happy again? That someone else loves me, despite your best efforts to prevent me from ever experiencing that again?"
"Harry, of course we want you to be happy. You're like a brother to us, we love you, Harry," Hermione said, trying to calm the irate boy.
"Or maybe it's because I'm gay," Harry continued, ignoring her. "All a bunch of homophobes in this house. You're trying to squash it out of me, just like my uncle tried to squash the magic out of me. But it won't work, I'm too strong, I can beat you."
"Harry, this is getting ridiculous," Ron said. "I think you'd better leave now and go think about what you're saying."
"I wish I'd been sorted into Slytherin like I was supposed to be," Harry raged on. "You're all a bunch of fuckwits who like to piss around with other people's lives. And they say Slytherins are manipulative..."
The other students glared at Harry, their Gryffindor pride starting to fill them with resentment.
Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione.
"I hate you."
"I don't much care for you right now, either," Ron said coolly. "But I know that you are not yourself, so I will try and overlook this."
"I don't want your friendship anymore, Ronald Weasley," Harry sneered. "Or yours, Hermione, so spare me your false compassion. You are both to blame for this, and you are both malicious, spiteful liars."
"Harry-"
"No, I don't ever want to speak to you again. Don't try to talk to me either. I'm fucking tired of you all."
Harry turned on his heel and stormed from the room, the portrait slamming behind him with a resounding bang.
The entire room stood rooted to the spot. Shock and disbelief, and in most cases anger, were reflected in their faces.
Hermione collapsed back onto the couch and stared at the fire, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Ron sat down beside her, still staring at the portrait where Harry had just exited from.
"What the hell was that?" he finally whispered.
"I don't know..." Hermione sniffed. "Ron, something is terribly wrong with him. He called me a...a..."
"I know," Ron snapped out of his daze and put an arm around his friend comfortingly. "We'll figure this out, we're not letting him go that easily."
Hermione nodded and rested her head on Ron's shoulder, as they stared into the fire together, both lost in thought.
* * * * * * * * *
Harry made it all the way to the Entrance Hall, before collapsing onto the floor. He was thankful that no other students were currently around, but it was getting close to dinner and the Hall would soon be full of hungry teenagers passing through. He crawled around the base of the stairway and leaned against it in exhaustion.
Sweat was dripping down his forehead and his entire body ached, his head pounding painfully. He didn't have the strength to stand or even move, so he sat there for the better part of an hour, breathing heavily and fighting to remain conscious.
Soon students were passing by, entering the Great Hall in noisy groups. Harry pressed himself against the stairs and bent over to remain in shadow. He heard Ron and Hermione pass by, the sound of his name catching his attention, but he couldn't hear what they were saying. He felt another burst of anger bubble up to the surface and fought to quell his rising temper, he knew that he would surely pass out from the effort.
He peeked out from his hiding place and spied Crabbe and Goyle emerge from the dungeon corridor. He raised his head a bit more, his eyes straining as he struggled to see if Draco was with them.
Crabbe and Goyle started walking over to where Harry was hidden, and he ducked back down with a stifled gasp.
"What is taking him so long?" Goyle whined. "I'm hungry."
The two goonish boys sat on the bottom steps and stared longingly into the Great Hall, the enticing aroma of dinner wafting out towards them. Harry felt his own stomach clench with hunger at the smell. He licked his dry lips and yearned for a tall glass of water. He needed something to restore his strength.
Crabbe took out a bag of candy and passed over some caramels to his friend.
"Crabbe, Goyle!"
Harry jumped at the sound of Draco's voice.
"Finally," Crabbe muttered, getting to his feet heavily.
Draco walked over to them, standing only feet away from Harry.
"What took you so long?" Goyle asked.
"Do you think perfection is easy?" Draco smirked.
Harry resisted the urge to reach out and touch Draco's robes.
"Can we eat now?" Crabbe pleaded, his stomach rumbling loudly.
"Is that all you two think about?" Draco asked with a roll of his eyes. "Give me one of those."
Crabbe tossed over the small plastic bag of candy, but was way off with his aim and it tumbled down over the railing and directly into Harry's lap.
Harry gasped and looked up wildly, his heart hammering.
"You stupid oaf," Draco chastised in annoyance. He walked around the banister and crouched down to search for the bag.
Instead of a dusty corner of floor, he found Harry sitting in the shadows, staring up at him.
Draco's eyes widened and he froze.
"Did you find it, Draco?"
Draco stood up quickly and turned around.
"No, go on without me," he said with a hint of irritation. "I'll find it and bring it in with me."
"We'll help-" Goyle offered, hopping down the steps.
"No," Draco ordered sharply. "I don't want to hear your stomachs growling for another five minutes while we search. Just go."
"Okay," they replied uncertainly.
Draco watched them leave, then turned back around.
"Harry?"
Harry shuffled backwards a few feet and looked away. He could feel himself shivering as flashes of hot and cold ran through his body. He cursed his luck at having Draco see him like this when he swore that he would never let the blond see him weak again.
"Harry?" Draco knelt down and looked into his half hidden face. "Are you alright?"
Harry looked up and Draco saw the drying sweat glistening on his forehead and the ghostly white pallor of his skin.
"Harry, what happened? What are you doing here?" he asked in concern, shuffling forwards and reaching out a gentle hand.
"I believe I could ask you the same thing."
Draco looked behind him and saw Ethan leaning against the banister, his arms crossed and his expression stormy.
He stood up abruptly and stood eye to eye with the other Slytherin, matching height inch for inch.
"I don't believe he's any of your concern now, Malfoy," Ethan said calmly.
Draco watched as Ethan swept by him and leaned down over Harry's huddled form. Ethan took a hold of his limp arms and hauled him to his feet.
Harry sagged weakly in his strong arms, his vision blurring slightly.
"What's wrong with him?" Draco asked with a frown.
"I think you can leave now, Malfoy," Ethan said with a sardonic smile. "I've got it under control. Besides, you wouldn't want anyone to know you've been talking to Potter again now, would you?"
Draco reigned in his temper, knowing he was right. He couldn't afford to be caught with Harry again. He turned away.
"Draco?" Harry cried out softly.
He turned around and looked into Harry's sweet face.
"Here."
Harry held out the bag of candy in his pale hand.
Draco walked forward and took it, briefly locking eyes with Harry's dazed and tired ones. He noticed that his eyes had a strange lack of awareness swirling in their dark, jade coloured depths.
Ethan turned and walked Harry slowly towards the dungeon corridor, Harry leaning heavily on his shoulder for support.
"I think we need to have a little chat, Harry dear," Ethan whispered into his ear. "We need to discuss the type of people you are conversing with when I'm not around."
Draco looked down at the small bag in his hand and forced himself to turn away and head into the Hall. He felt as if he was being ripped apart as he let Harry be taken away in that state.
But Ethan was right, it wasn't his place to care for the Gryffindor anymore.