Author's notes: I do not own Harry Potter nor associates. Please review. Explanations for new term/spells/magical item are at post-fic author's notes. Thank you.
"Hermione, I think Malfoy overheard our conversation." Harry spoke, with seriousness as the trio made their way back to their dormitories. Their footsteps echoed along the hallway and Ron, who was intently studying the Marauder's Map, did not catch what Harry said.
"What? Are you serious?" replied Hermione.
"Yes. When we came out of the hut, I saw this blond head. He disappeared quickly though." Harry stopped suddenly. "Shh. Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" enquired Hermione.
"I think... I think I hear someone weeping! Is it Moaning Myrtle?" Ron chattered as he mentioned her name. Not only was he afraid of offending her, he was equally afraid of meeting her.
"She's in the loo, not floating around in the hallways scaring people in the middle of the night," Hermione just had to retort Ron on that. It is a wonder to many as to why the both of them became an item. Harry thought that they complemented each other in terms of their strengths and weaknesses and Ginny thinks it's because Hermione loves red hair.
Meanwhile, Harry noticed that those cries resembled a particular someone he knew. Draco Malfoy. "Maybe it's just our imagination. Tell you what, you two run along, I've got to go back to Hagrid's. Left my wand there." Harry felt this need to go check up on Malfoy, to see if he was all right. After all, Harry knew that Draco had overheard about his father's plight.
"Really? All right, see you back at the dorm then. Here, take the map, we're almost there. Filch is a mile away." Ron handed Harry the map and walked off with Hermione. Scanning the map, Harry found Malfoy near the stairway leading to the Astronomy Tower. I should go see if he's all right. At the very most, I'll get chided by him. Harry gathered his courage and made his way to the tower.
Draco Malfoy was sitting on a step, hugging his knees and crying into his cloak. The moonlight that shone in through the window cast a light upon his cheeks, stricken with tears. Harry stood where he was and enquired about him. "Are you all right?"
"Go away. Leave me alone." Malfoy sounded weak and hoarse. He pulled his hood over his head and turned his body to back face Harry. He was evidently trying to hide his tears.
"You overheard what we said, did you? I'm sorry for what that has happened, but please, be strong. Don't cry." Harry pleaded. He hated it when people cry, for it always stabs him in the heart, especially when he knows that there's nothing that can be done to better the situation. He could feel that familiar heart-wrenching ache, even if the one crying was his arch enemy.
"Who says I'm crying? Get lost before I attack, Potter." Malfoy stood up and drew out his wand. Clenching it so tightly his knuckles turned white, Malfoy angled the wand at Harry point blank. Nevertheless, Harry noticed the tiny shivers of his arm and shoulders.
"Please, Draco. I know how it feels. You've just got to be strong. It's not going to be easy but you have to be strong."
"No. You don't understand. And you will never understand. Just bugger off!" Malfoy dropped his arm and scooted off. Harry felt dejected. All the thoughts of how Draco used to torture and traumatize him just didn't matter anymore. What mattered now is how he is going to help Draco overcome this bad patch.
Harry lied down on his bed, but could not fall asleep. "Hey Ron," Harry turned to face Ron, who sleeps on the bunk next to his. "What do you think will happen to Malfoy if he hears about this?"
"Huh? I don't know. All I know is that once his followers hear about this, that's the time we hear of the dissolution of his fan club." Ron replied, sounding tired and sleepy.
"I see. How would you feel then? Are you going to be happy about it?"
"I don't know. It's sure fun to see Draco Malfoy having to carry his own books without silly Slytherin girls kissing the ground he walks upon."
Harry was not surprised to hear Ron speak this way. The way he had tormented Ron all these years, it's no doubt Ron hated him. But now that the situation has changed, Harry wondered if he could help Malfoy without souring his relationship with Ron. He knew, of course that Ron would never agree to him helping Draco Malfoy. Not intending to probe further, for there was no need to, Harry told Ron to turn in while he himself spent the rest of the night trying to get Draco Malfoy out of his mind.
The next day, Professor Dumbledore announced the canceling of their Hogsmeade weekend in the Great Hall. A minor commotion broke out, the Slytherins were protesting against it. Those that could not contain their anger stood up and waved their arms around in frenzy, and as Harry turned around to look at Malfoy, he saw him, sitting at the table, sipping his black coffee quietly. Harry felt that familiar misery descend upon him, and for that moment, he felt as though the Dementors were here again. He thought he would never be happy again. Malfoy caught his stare, but didn't care much about it. If it was the old Malfoy, he would have attempted to hex me, thought Harry. As he returned to his breakfast, Hermione could not help it but noticed how downcast he looked. In her heart, she had the slightest idea as to why.
"Harry, I need to talk to you. I'll meet you in the Owlery after my Arithmancy class." Hermione whispered to Harry on the way to class. She had to speak to him and clear her doubts about what's going on.
During Divinations, Ron couldn't help but predict betrayal in the near future. Over the years he has become quite proficient at crystal ball gazing; even Professor Tralawney felt the Diviner aura in him. Ron had wanted to confide in Harry about this disturbing divination, but Harry seemed preoccupied and listless. The last time Ron had seen Harry this way was in fourth year, when he was very much infatuated with Cho. When Divination ended, Ron noticed Harry walking in the direction of the Owlery. And when he could not find Hermione anywhere, he was beginning to sense the divination coming sooner than expected.
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