Harry Potter and the Shard of Magic.
By Wihstrum
Chapter eight: Inside out
Harry slumped down in his favorite couch, hugging himself trying to stop the shivering, his jaw clattering. He even didn't see Finbar's perplexed gaze while he passed him. The Gryffindor didn't even wonder why he was down there anyway and not up in his bed. Ron sat down on the ground, his eyes never leaving Harry. He gave him a while to catch his breath.
"…You okay mate?" he asked him softly. Ron perfectly remembered what happened last two times Harry had awoken in a similar state. His dad… and Sirius.
Harry didn't answer. He just kept staring into the distance. When Ron considered taking him to the hospital wing he whispered. "I can't remember what I dreamed. Something about Tom and Sirius and …"
"…and?"
"I don't remember…"
Finbar gaped at his two housemates, he nearly felt sick himself when he briefly touched Harry's light with the sight. He'd never felt such agony and guilt contained in one's 'energy field'. He silently wondered what had happened last year, because it must have been so terrible, scarring Harry this deeply. Finbar knew he could help, but he was afraid to make it worse if he failed. The emerald eyed Gryffindor suddenly leaned away from Ron and threw up, gagging, tears leaking out of his eyes because of the fierce pain. Ron mumbled a quick "Sanito" to clean the mess, a little green himself. Finbar made up his mind and slowly crouched before Harry, calling out his name. It took a while before the latter was able to respond. Being so close to the pained youth made Finbar's skin burn and gave him a pounding headache.
"Do you trust me?"
The green pools of emotion that were Harry's eyes lighted up and he nodded weakly. Finbar clasped his hands in his, they were freezing and clam from the sweat "Close your eyes… I promise I won't hurt you." he sighed shakily "Ron, please don't interfere."
Before the redhead could splutter a response Finbar took action, he completely tore down all his emotional barricades and let his spirit touch Harry's. It was a careful questioning gesture and when Harry's barely responded, he knew that the 'vision' in Harry's dream had crashed his psychological health, in short, he was in shock. He fiercely forced himself into Harry's consciousness and pulled with all his might.
The next thing he knew he was holding his head, feeling like it would burst. The pain spread to every part of his body and the air was slammed out of his lungs, sending him sprawling on the flour gasping for breath.
Harry's eyes flew open when he heard an agonized moan coming from the floor. Finbar was being supported by Ron, who was as pale as Moaning Myrtle. He couldn't quite comprehend because the next thing that came to his mind was the vision he had.
"Gringotts!" He hastily stood up and ran out of common room, jumping over the two young men hunched on the floor in the progress and finally darting trough the portrait hole.
Finbar smiled weakly up at Ron, the burning fire in his body dying out. "Looks like it worked, eh?"
Harry ran as fast as his feet could carry him, slaloming through other panicking students in the hallways, vaguely wondering why they were there in the first place. His mind annoyingly pointed out that he didn't know what he'd been doing in the common room and why Finbar had been on the ground, Ron bend over him. He felt a pang of guilt but didn't know why.
Must find Dumbledore.Was the rant droning on and on in his aching head.
He sharply turned a corner and collided head on into a very furious Draco Malfoy. The blonde sneered and shoved him aggressively away from him "Dammit Potter can't you see where you're going?"
The Gryffindor growled, ready to punch Draco's pretty face when Blaise pushed them apart, his brown hair a complete mess and only clad into his silk boxers. "Damn you two, stop bickering like infants."
Harry noticed the blood shimmering on Draco's bare chest and hands. The stormy eyed youth apparently caught the horrified stare and snarled "I didn't kill anyone Potter. It's Alex', we - he nodded at Blaise - need to get the Headmaster."
The raven haired youth's mind reeled and his stomach tried to crawl up his throat. "A-Alex?"
"Yes, Alex. So could you please leave us be, we kind of are in a hurry?" and with that he turned, Blaise on his heels. He quickly shot after the two Slytherins. To their relief they found the ancient wizard in the next hallway sharing a heated discussion with Snape and McGonagall.
"Sir!" both Harry and Draco yelled in unison.
Harry used the confusion to speak up first "Sir! Gringott's is under attack! Hundreds of huge black creatures , dementors and Death Eaters."
Draco rolled his eyes "Shouldn't you be off to save the day then?" Blaise shot him an irritated look which he coolly returned.
Harry gave the smirking Slytherin a dead stare but ignored him otherwise "I'm not lying, I saw it happening! He's slaughtering them all!" his voice turning to a scream.
"We know Harry." The wizard said hoarsely "We were informed barely 10 minutes ago." He held up an official looking letter. "Help is on its way, but we fear that the greatest harm is done already."
Harry blinked, puzzled. Relieved at one side that he'd been right and shocked that he had been. Also: bam, there it was, it's happened go back to sleep. Snape in meanwhile strode over to Draco and Blaise. "What happened?" he snarled, nodding at Draco's bloody chest.
The stormy eyed Slytherin stiffened and his jaw clenched "Alex. She has gone completely out of her mind. Millecent woke me up, urging me to take a look. She was tearing the skin of her arms and stomach with her bare hands. She kept screaming to 'get him out of her'…"
Snape visibly paled even more. He didn't even look at them anymore when he started sprinting down to the dungeons, Draco hurrying after him. Blaise moved to do the same but was kindly halted by Dumbledore. "You and Mister Potter are coming with me, you two need to inform me of what's going on."
"Tea?" he asked them, pouring a cup for himself. McGonagall had left them to maintain order in the hallways.
Harry and Blaise shook their head, both quite annoyed at the question. This was no time for a tea party!
Dumbledore gazed at them with his piercing blue eyes. "Mister Potter, you start first."
Harry drew a deep breath and narrowed his eyes, trying to recall everything as detailed as possible. "I was sitting in the common room and heard Finbar moaning in pain, Ron helping him up. I don't honestly don't know what happened, but I clearly remembered a vision about Gringotts, the goblins on the losing hand in a battle of onslaught against huge dark creatures, dementors and Death Eaters. Hexes, curses, jinxes and charms were flying everywhere, the injured littered on the ground, in their own blood and that of friends and foes alike…"
"May I ask you a very painful question?" Dumbledore whispered softly after letting Harry's forced explanation sink down.
"Yes…"
"Were you Voldemort?"
Blaise hissed and shifted in his seat.
"No. It was like I was watching from above… my scar hurts nonetheless though…"
"Okay, thank you Harry." He sighed and drained his cup of tea and poured a new one. "Mister Zabini?"
His brown eyes shot up and he cleared his throat. "Well, we were all awake because of the earthquake…"
"Earthquake?" Harry interrupted.
"Let him explain first Harry… please continue mister Zabini." Blaise shot Harry a dirty look and did as requested "Everybody and everything was in complete chaos, first years crying and running around. Draco, as prefect, had gotten up to calm everybody down…"
A mental image of Malfoy nursing first years sprang to Harry's mind and he couldn't help himself and shake his head, unbelievingly. Impossible.
"…I was helping him out and all of a sudden Millecent and Pansy came up to us. Millecent said we should take a look at Alex because she'd appeared to have gone out of her mind. As soon as we could tear Pansy away from Draco, we went to take a look..." Blaise's voice grew quieter and quieter as he continued and they had to strain to hear him "It was horrible. She was drawing blood with her very own nails, screaming and pleading us to 'get him out of her'. Draco tried to calm her down but she pushed him away and yelled that we mustn't come near her. We couldn't find Madame Pomfrey so we came to look for you sir…"
Dumbledore looked genuinely worried. "I see. Thank you, both of you. Why don't you go down to the hospital wing? I'm sure they'll bring your friend down there when they get her calmed down."
The two house rivals patted barefooted down the cold stone corridors, heading for the Hospital wing. Blaise was shivering violently, wearing nothing but his underwear. Harry caught him rubbing his arms and the better in him won from the hate against the house the young man was in. He handed him his nightshirt. "Here, put that on, you're freezing."
Blaise stared at the offer perplexed. At first he wanted to sneer something about Gryffindor infected garments, but the honest look in Harry's green eyes won him over. He grabbed the shirt and pulled it on, still warm from Harry's body heath. "Thanks" he muttered. They headed down some stairs and turned a corner.
Harry couldn't bare the awkward silence "Why are you so scantly dressed anyway?"
Blaise retorted with beautifully controlled mirth: "I sleep in the nude."
Harry swallowed "Right…" and cursed himself when he heard Blaise purring in delight at his discomfort.
At long last they got to Pomfrey's domain, both he and Blaise letting out a relieved sigh when they saw Draco hovering next to a bed, where Alex was being treated. It seemed that Poppy tried to shoo the blonde away, but he didn't even flinch and stubbornly held guard at Alex' bed.
His eyebrows shot up gracefully when he saw Blaise wearing a shirt he'd that hadn't been there before while his archenemy was bare-chested. "Oh c'mon Zabini you can do better then that…"
Blaise snarled but kept Harry's shirt on, still freezing to the bone. "Go drown yourself Malfoy."
Harry didn't catch the little conflict and hurried over to his friend. Madame Pomfrey had mended her wounds within seconds, but hadn't been able heal the haunted look on her face. The raven haired youth didn't even have time to sit down next to her properly, because she'd already flung herself at him, starting to shiver uncontrollably. Harry was shocked at the close contact, but didn't dare to push her away, so he held her carefully. He saw Draco and Blaise looking at him with an utterly perplexed gaze, yet one that didn't held venom at all.
The doors of the hospital swung open and Ron strode in, Hermione and Ginny barely able to follow his strides. Ginny held Finbar's hand, who solemnly tagged behind her. Pomfrey started to make a fuss, but was silenced by professor Lupin who told her that he was the one that send them down there in the first place.
Ron came up next to him and briefly touched Alex' shoulder. "What happened?"
"Nobody knows…" Blaise replied in Harry's place. Ron wrinkled his nose at the Slytherins.
Alex slowly let go of Harry and her cheeks had deepened to a glorious shade of maroon. "Sorry…"
"That's alright…" he swallowed, he wasn't used to things like these, but besides being flattered that she'd been so glad to see him he was unaffected. Secretly glad that he wasn't developing feelings for her, he looked at Ron. "Sorry about running of like that mate…"
"No hard feelings on my side, but you might want to thank Finbar…" Harry arched a questioning eyebrow at that, but Ron merely nodded at the ebony haired young man, quietly munching down a large piece of chocolate, Lupin and the two girls keeping him company. Meanwhile other students seeped in, all having minor bruises from the 'earthquake'.
He said down next to the aforementioned Gryffindor and gazed at him intently. Finbar looked like he'd moved a mountain all by himself. "What… happened?" he asked him quietly. Remus, Hermione and Ginny politely moved away from them, letting them have some privacy.
Finbar swallowed a large bite of chocolate. "Don't be mad at me…" he whispered wearily "I forced myself into your spirit… I…I…" he shifted his gaze to his hands "I transferred your negative emotions over to myself… without your approval…"
"You what…? How?"
"I did it a few months ago with my little brother, Darragh… his favorite unicorn died… a wer-… a…" he coughed and squeezes his eyes shut, forcing the tears back. "It was killed and he saw it happen… he didn't eat anymore. He didn't sleep anymore. He didn't talk anymore. So one night I sneaked into his room and did the same thing as I've done to you about an hour ago…"
Harry put a hand on Finbar's shoulder and forced him to look into his eyes. "Thank you."
"No problem…"
"You know, Hermione was right. It is a gift, not a curse…"
Finbar snorted and muttered a 'We'll see about that'.
Meanwhile Draco and Blaise awkwardly stood at Alex' bed. Draco pulled a chair next to it and sat down. Alex raised her gaze up to him; her eyes blazing green, lushes of blonde hair dangling around her face. She nodded at his chest. "Sorry for that…"
He waved it away. "Care to tell me what happened?"
She looked at him sharply. "Snape said I had a nightmare… I don't remember much."
Draco growled and trailed a finger over his chest and held it up to Alex' nose. Blood ran down, leaving a red trail on his arm. "Sure."
Alex heaved a sigh and looked at her hands. "I told you I'm sorry."
"I wasn't talking about the fact that you ruined my silk pajamas, but about the fact that you bloody nearly killed yourself!" he snarled.
"Dammit, I said I don't remember!"
"Right and I'm married to Potter!"
They glared at each other evilly for a few seconds, sharing a private staring contest, electricity crackling between them. Draco gave up first, cursing the stubborn girl inwardly. "Look, you don't have to tell me nothing, it ain't my business. But you gave us all quite a scare." He said softly, so that no one else heard him but Alex and himself.
She smiled weakly at him and brushed a strand of blonde hair out of his face. "You're okay when you're not acting like a complete asshole…"
"Gee thanks…" he muttered glaring at Alex half-heartedly.
Finbar casually strolled into the Gryffindor common room, he'd been forced to spend the night under Madame Pomfrey's care, he'd protested that he was alright, but she wouldn't have any of it. He really needed a shower. He bumped into Hermione who was on her way to breakfast.
"Finbar! How are you feeling?" she asked him, her pretty brown eyes scanning him.
He shrugged "Okay I guess… my sight is a little messed up though, I ran into a second year hufflepuff on the way up, poor thing…"
She chuckled and patted his arm. "You know what, I'll be waiting here. Go get ready and we'll go to breakfast together."
"Thanks Hermione…" he smiled at her and went up to his room to collect clean robes and his books. He quickly showered, dressed and joined Hermione once again.
"Finbar?" she asked quietly when they padded trough the hallways.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for helping Harry out. He tried to explain what you did last night… that was really brave of you." her face was warmed by a smile; her bushy brown her playfully jumping around her head at every step she took.
"Whatever, I did what everybody else would have done." He pointed out.
She shook her head "Don't believe me then, but just wanted to say I'm grateful."
"Thanks, but I don't deserve the credit."
"Stubborn git…" she murmured fondly under her breath.
"I heard that!"
Blaise rubbed his eyes furiously, the lack of sleep catching up with the adrenaline from last night's events. He'd read in the Daily Prophet this morning about the attack on Gringott's, confirming Potter's explanation in the headmaster's office. There were photos of Death Eaters, dementors and those weird demon-ish creatures, named Shadowborns. Unlike the rest of the Slytherin table, he wasn't thrilled. Not as shocked as the Hufflepuffs or any other house. But certainly not glad. He saw Draco poking his food around his plate absently, his eyes red from rubbing them. Although Draco would rather jump down the Astronomy Tower than admit, he wasn't glad about the slaughter either. Blaise could guess why. He snapped out of his musing when the doors of the Great Hall flew open.
Alex stamped in, pulling some bandages from her arms in the process. She grumpily sat down next to Blaise, a scowl spread over her pretty face. She was beginning to take after Draco. He snickered at the thought. "Good morning…"
She sighed and threw her spoon on the table, spluttering milk all over the blonde prefect whom didn't even flinch, his eyelids slipping shut and dangerously close to falling face-down into his cereals. "Gah… they wanted to keep me there for another two days!" she screeched "Can you believe that? It's not like I've gone fucking mental!"
Blaise coughed and shot her an odd look. "Well… you were trying to rip the skin of your bones… but hey, nothing wrong with that…"
"Oh sod off Blaise… I barely remember anything; the first clear memory is that of Snape muttering counter-curses."
Blaise shrugged and stared at Draco whom was dozing off; his head propped up his fist, close to slipping away.
"Say… that earthquake… did you feel it too?" Blaise asked her on a side note.
"Nope… I didn't. I heard about it though. Just some minor tremors right?"
"Minor tremors? I fell down the stairs because of those 'minor' tremors, you can check my battered ass for prove… Anyways, I wonder if the Dark Lord called up that earthquake."
"To what purpose? Shake us awake so we could rush over and kick his pale bony ass?"
Blaise quirked up an eyebrow at her casual response. "Hmmm… dunno…" and jumped up with a curse when Draco's head splashed into his bowl of cereal, milk and cornflakes flying through the air.
Divination passed by painfully slow, Ron slipping rather into a deep sleep than into a trance. He wondered why he'd picked up the subject again anyway and cursed Harry for being smarter and picking extra DADA lessons. He literally sat the course out and lazily packed his bag, while Finbar softly spoke with Firenze. When all students left, Ron moved to stand next to Finbar, hauling his bag over his shoulder.
"Okay, Finbar Ganad, explain your problem." Firenze asked him.
Finbar scanned the room again, making sure nobody could overhear and slowly said "I have problems with visualizing things. It seems like I have a second way to do that, but I can't control it. It's a haze of colors and radiating sensations."
Firenze looked at him interested, nearly fascinated "And can you 'feel' other people?"
"Yes, I can pick up their emotions, I can even guess what their thinking by sensing their feelings if I switch over to second sight. Gives me a pounding headache when I'm around a large crowd of people. Last night I pulled negative emotions out of Harry and transferred it to myself." He brushed a strand of black hair from his face. "When Alex is around I can focus myself better and if she touches me, I nearly have full control over my sight."
Firenze contemplated his words, his hoofs making damped noises on the soft ground of the foresty classroom. "You can see auras."
"Auras?" both Finbar and Ron asked in unison.
"Yes. Auras basically are the life-force and personal energy of every living thing, creature or plant on this planet. You are blessed with a very rare gift." He smiled at him mysteriously "And it's very strong in you, if you're able to mentally heal other people."
"But I can't control it if Alex isn't around…"
"You did so last night, did you not?"
Finbar plucked his goatee while his brow rumpled "Yes, you are right, but that's only when I'm in an extreme situation, but even then it's not guaranteed I can use it properly."
"Let me offer you something; I will try and help you controlling your gift. Let's say on Tuesday evenings? I understand that it falls together with Harry's and Alex' Occlumency lessons."
"Yes. It does." He nodded and smiled "Thank you sir, I appreciate it!"
Saturday morning.
The training with Remus had been different that expected; I though a little counter-curses and the usual defensive spells. Wrong, we went jogging, all the way to Hogsmeade… good thing I'd been wearing my trainers and the usual oversized t-shirt. I quite instantly realized I was terribly out of shape. At the train station in the village we finally stopped and I wanted to drape myself against to cool stones. Moony ordered me to do some stretches first, snickering at my affronted face and handed me a bottle of water afterwards. The came a few training exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups, dives and rolls, …
The rest of the morning was spend rather calmly, reviewing some charms, hexes and curses, the usual things we'd been doing in DA-meetings. After that Remus passed on to new, much more complicated ones. Even spells that weren't even taught at school, not because they were illegal, but just too complicated.
We ate lunch together, relaxing into the late summer sun. It was so easy to be around Remus and forget about everything. My mood had dropped to 'from zero to pissed off in 0.4 seconds' after the whole vision thing, I couldn't help myself and kept thinking about Sirius and the Prophesy. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. Sure, Potter the incredible Dark Lord vanquisher…
Moony had this wonderful personality and I just knew I'd be accidentally calling him 'Moony' or 'Remus' during upcoming lessons.
We spend two more hours rehearsing the new Charm we'd been focusing on and jogged back to Hogwards after I got it right. I headed for the showers straight away after thanking him. He'd told me that after a few more complicated spells we'd be switching to martial arts and eventually even to fencing, if they managed to find a proper martial arts instructor… Fencing would be mentored by none one other than himself and surprise, surprise: Tonks. This might get interesting…
Quiddich Pit. Sunday afternoon.
The tryouts for the Gryffindor team were a complete chaos, although an organized one. Various participants flew hence and forth, trying out for whatever position they were going for. Harry in meanwhile practiced a little with the same snitch he'd accidentally 'stole' while he and George had beaten Malfoy up. Ah memories… involuntarily he remembered Thursday morning and he saw the new glint in Malfoy's eyes when he was guarding Alex' bed. As if he cared… Malfoy caring about something else then his hair and blood-line? Impossible! Right?
After the last Gryffindor had a go (knocking Ginny of her broom with the Quaffle while doing so) Ron and his team leaned in for a team huddle. "So, what have we got?"
"Ginny for Chaser, she's fast and a natural in the air!" Katie said immediately.
"Jup, I thought so too." He said it in a neutral tone, but he was looking exceedingly pleased with the obvious Quiddich talent from his little sister.
"And for second chaser we've got this new girl named Reya Letser, she's second best up to Ginny, although we'll have to get her in shape…" Jack pointed out. Reya was a third year with pretty grey eyes and light brown hair.
Ron and Katie both nodded in agreement. The redhead frowned and said: "I really insist on having Finbar as reserve beater, okay I admit, he was horrible, but I do believe he's got talent. He's just so nervous…"
"Maybe after Firenze's lessons…" Harry added.
"Uh-huh, and for reserve Chaser I'd like to pick Dennis Creevly, he's darn fast, but a little too jumpy and hyper…"
"I think we'd better keep Ginny as reserve Seeker… since I end up in the hospital wing more than once a year…" Harry grinned impishly.
Katie ruffled trough his hair affectionately "That's our Harry."
"Well, that's settled then!" Ron raised himself and spoke up "I want to thank all of you for showing up and giving it a try! I'll announce who'll be given which open spots: for Chaser – Ginny Weasley (Ginny did a little happy dance, Finbar winked at her, giving her a thumbs up) for second Chaser – Reya Letser! For reserve Chaser we've got Dennis Creevly, for reserve Beater Finbar Ganad and finally for reserve Seeker we've once again got Ginny Weasley!"
A lot of disappointed moans and grunts rose from the not aforementioned Gryffindors. "I want to thank you all again for being here! Let's hit the showers!"
Harry thought that Ron was a natural at captaining the Gryffindor team; he'd slid in the position of Team Leader while being a friend, yet demanding respect because of doing so. He was glad he'd chosen to pursue McGonagall. They strolled into the locker room, girls and boys separated, although they did have pep talks before each training or game in the boy's locker room when everyone was decent. Laughter bounced of the walls, everybody pushing each other amiably as a good Quiddich Match always brought up. Harry stripped himself from his shirt and dropped it to the ground, several others headed for the showers. The ravenhead leaned back, enjoying the cool touch of the stone wall against his skin, he was smiling unconsciously; flying still gave him an incredible boost, the hunt for the Snitch each time a new rush of adrenaline.
"Hey Harry, wake up man!" he heard a pleasant deep voice asking him.
He opened his eyes and stared straight into the muscular stomach of a young man towering over him. His eyes traveled up to a just as muscular chest and he noticed a dark tribal tattoo starting at the ribs on the left side, ending in the neck. His black hair was combed back and his morning blue eyes twinkled with amusement. Harry felt a slight twinge in his shorts and shifted uncomfortably. God what a body.His eyes flew open in bewilderment, shocked out of his mind.
Immediately he saw an equally flustered look on Finbar's face, his jaw open a little and staring at him non-believingly. Harry jumped up and sprinted out of the lockers, leaving Finbar gaping after him, his clothes and equipment forgotten. Still clad in only his Quiddich trousers and boots, he ran over the green grass surrounding Hogwards, trough the Front Gate, up the stairs, in the hallway where he bumped into Dean.
"AAH!" he jumped away from him, hands in the air. Dean reaching out to ask him if he was alright. Harry backing away until he hit a wall, ducked out of Dean's questioning reach, turned a corner and sprinted down yet another hallway, receiving several catcalls from girls because of his bare torso. He ignored them however and sprinted once again up a set of stairs. And, as always, having all the luck of the world, he ran into Malfoy, both knocked back at the force of the impact. Harry's glasses nearly falling to the ground. He quickly tugged them up his nose and saw the stormy grey eyes flash evilly at him, a lock of blonde hair dangling in his face. He was wearing a sleeveless turtleneck, showing off his slightly muscular arms. Harry promptly shut his eyes. It was just a mind lapse, I am not gay… I can't be gay. I'm Harry Potter the-boy-who-lived, the unlucky bastard from the prophesy and I am not gay.
He slowly crooked open one eye and saw Malfoy giving him the-what-the-hell-look.
"Are you doing this on purpose Potter?" he sneered, picking himself up and gracefully brushed the lock of hair out of his face, leaving Harry sitting on the ground when he didn't reply. He heard Malfoy's footsteps turn a corner. Harry rested his head in hands. This can't be happening. Oh bloody Merlin. He realized how stupid he must have looked, running trough Hogwards half-naked.
Okay. Relax. Breath in, breath out. Nothing is wrong, I'm just tired.
He shakily stood up and headed for the Gryffindor Tower. He flopped down unto the couch and covered his eyes with his hands. Okay, right, recapitulate: I see Finbar getting dressed, I feel… I feel… Oh c'mon Harry, if can't do this you certainly can't deal with Voldemort. Okay? Okay! Once again; I see Finbar getting dressed, I feel a-a-attracted. Ahem! Now what? Several options available: option one: commit suicide by getting run over by a herd of sheep. Hum… sheep not scary enough... get run over by a herd of skrewts. Good one. Option two: admit I'm having trouble accepting my new found sexuality. Option tree: ignore everybody and everything by locking myself away in Moaning Myrtle's toilet…
And the winner is…
"Harry!"
I Voldemort still plans to kill me, please let it be now…
"Harry? Mate what's gotten into you?" Ron came up to him, sitting down next to him. The green eyed Gryffindor scooted over to far other hand of the couch, eying him wearily.
"Mate? Something wrong? You even left your Firebolt down in the locker-room…"
He gave him a horrible failing innocent look "I just… I dunno. I was confused, but I'm fine now jes' peachy."
He got up to their bedroom, wanting to change himself, but just as he was naked save for his boxers and struggling with his pants when Ron opened the door and casually threw himself on the raven head's bed, starting to chat enthusiastically about the training. It took him a while to realize that Harry was awkwardly covering himself with his yeans like a first year Hufflepuff girl.
"What's going on?" he demanded. Ron Weasley wasn't stupid, although he'd like to pass himself of a little naïve. Okay, sometimes he wasn't like, you know, focused, but right now he'd swear he was willing to drop dead this instant if he was wrong. Harry Potter, his long-time friend was hiding something from him.
"Harry?" another voice queried.
Thank heavens Finbar's here to save the day. Oh wait, nope, this not good. He's giving me that creepy-I-can-read-your-mind-look… he knows! Oh dear Merlin he knows! If Harry could he'd cream 'The scream' from Münch. But not right now. Getting dressed was his first goal, he didn't respond to Finbar and hastily changed into a comfy old, rather baggy yeans and a sleeveless t-shirt.
"Well… I'll see you guys later… I uh… Got to study…" he stepped out of the room sideways and ran for safety. After once again running trough the whole labyrinth that was Hogwards he ended up outside finding exactly the person who he needed. But she's got company.
"Alex!" he called out to the blonde who was studying Charm notes from Hermione, Zabini and Malfoy perched in the grass next to her.
He kept a safe distance, not wanting to get to close to other… guys. Alex gave him a curious grin and padded over.
"Yes?"
"Kiss me!"
"Eh? Excuse me? Could you repeat that cause I don't think I"
"I asked you to kiss me." He touted his lips and closed his eyes. He felt her coming nearer and her soft lips pecked him on his right cheek.
He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Nono, a reaaaal kiss."
She snorted and crossed her arms. "I'm not going to French kiss you!"
"But it's really important…?" he muttered trough clenched teeth.
"I think you need to get laid man, you're really creeping me out…"
He rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air "Slytherins!"
She poked his chest "You're the one asking me to kiss you, Harriekins, not me. You."
He waved her away and snorted at the two male Slytherins who apparently thought he'd finally gone mental. "What?" he sneered. He directed himself to Alex again and whispered as softly as he could "I need to find out whether or not I'm attracted to you."
"Sure, I bet that happens all day… what do you want me to do? Flash my boobs?"
"If you please?"
"Oh get lost!" she smacked him playfully at the back of his head, thinking he was joking. She returned to the other two chuckling amused.
Okay, on to plan B. Current progress of plan B is still to find out what plan B will be… now this is getting confusing…
Half an hour later. Library.
There was a nearly inaudible thud as the infamous Harry Potter let his head smack against the tabletop, the quill tinkling in the ink pot. He rubbed his forehead and tried to read the sentence he'd been working on for the past 15 minutes again. He wondered what book he'd been trying to read for the past half an hour. He turned it and looked at the cover.
'Magical Marriages' by Rosie Cuddlins.
Good Merlin… that's it. This is not happing, it is a friction of my imagination and I've completely gone insane. And tomorrow morning I'll wake up at St. Mungo's and they'll tell me that I've fallen of my broom and hit my head.
"Hi Harry…"
Eep
Finbar sat down opposite of him, a sly grin spread over his face. Harry didn't look at the rakishly handsome youth and just wished he'd turn into ant or a fly so he could squash himself with the Daily Prophet.
"You think I'm attractive." It was more of a statement then a question.
Harry didn't react while blushed slightly.
"You think I'm attractive as in sexually attractive." I could hear Finbar's smile soaked into this one. He paused dramatically and stated, a little too loud in Harry's opinion. "You're gay."
"Hush!" Harry glared, hoping to wipe the grin of his face "I'm not gay… I'm bisexual."
He crossed his arms and plucked his goatee. His hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. "The look on your face was priceless…"
"You felt me."
"Damn straight I did, most disturbing thing I've ever gone trough." He tried to sound affronted, but Harry could see the reassuring look his blue eyes. "Hey, it's okay… nothing with being bisexual…"
"Ssshht!"
"What? Bisexual! Bisexualbisexualbisexual…"
"Keep it down!" he hissed at him.
Finbar shrugged. "How did you found out you were bisexual." He pronounced the word 'bisexuel' all too clearly.
"Well quite easily. You imagine a girl. Preferably naked and then you go from then. Is there no physical reaction, you're gay. Is there; you're probably bisexual."
"Hmmm… I guess. Don't jump to conclusions though."
Harry nodded and muttered "I fear the being attracted to you was quite clearly…"
"Damn straight," he snickered "I thought you were gonna hump me…"
"Can we drop that? It's not like I'm in love with you or something."
"Fair enough, because I'd hate to break your heart." He sighed dramatically and batted his eyes. He smiled at Harry's tired expression and felt a little sorry for teasing him. He rose from his seat, leaned over the table and patted him on the back "C'mon, let's go back…"